Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sampling Bias in Roadsides: The Case of Galling Aphids on Pistacia Trees

  • Published:
Biodiversity & Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sampling along roadsides is convenient and is widely practiced in insect population researches. Ecological conditions in road verges are very different than those prevailing in natural habitats and they affect the annual growth of plants in semi-arid and arid regions. This in turn may improve development, survival and abundance of insects feeding on plants growing in roadsides. These trends may bias the results of sampling. To verify this assertion, we quantified the effects of growing in roadside on annual growth of Pistacia atlantica trees and Pistacia palaestina shrubs and compare two demographic indexes of nine gall-inducing aphid species on trees growing along roads with trees in the open landscape, in Israel. The annual growth of the two host plants was significantly more vigorous in roadsides than away from roads. Tests of Combined Probabilities showed that the likelihood of P. atlantica and P. palaestina to be parasitized by more galls of Fordini species is higher in roadsides than away from roads. Moreover, in the semi-dry regions of Israel, three aphid species on P. atlantica and five species on P. palaestina induced more galls in plants growing along roads than away from roads, while in the rainy Northern region, the difference was not significant between the two habitats. These results indicate a biased evaluation of population size in roadside habitat, which has to be accounted in insect–plant relation researches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • S. Akimoto Y. Yamaguchi (1994) ArticleTitlePhenotypic selection on the process of gall formation of a Tetraneura aphid (Pemphigidae) J. Animal Ecol. 63 727–738

    Google Scholar 

  • BIOMstat. Third edit. Exeter Software.

  • J. Bird D.P. Faith L. Rhombery B. Riska R.R. Sokal (1979) ArticleTitleThe morphs of Pemphigus populi transversus: allocation methods, morphometrics, and distribution patterns Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 72 767–774

    Google Scholar 

  • R.L. Blackman V.F. Eastop (1994) Aphids on the World's Trees: An Identification and Information Guide CAB International UK

    Google Scholar 

  • F.S. Bodenheimer E. Swirski (1957) The Aphidoidea of the Middle East Weizmann Science Press of Israel Jerusalem

    Google Scholar 

  • S.E. Brooks J.D. Shorthouse (1997) ArticleTitleBiology of the rose stem galler Diploleris nodulosa (HymenopteraCynipidae) and its associated component community in Central Ontario Can. Entomol. 129 1121–1140 Occurrence Handle10.4039/Ent1291121-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Burstein D. Wool (1993) ArticleTitleGall aphids do not select optimal galling sites (Smynthurodes betae; Pemphigidae) Ecol. Entomol. 18 155–164

    Google Scholar 

  • G.A. Davatchi (1958) ArticleTitleEtude comparative sur la biologie et le polymorphisme des aphides gallicoles des Pistacia d’Asie Centraledu Moyen-Orientdu bassin mediterraneen et du Nord Africain Rev. Pathol. Entomol. Agr. Franaise 37 85–166

    Google Scholar 

  • A.M. Farmer (1993) ArticleTitleThe effects of dust on vegetation – a review Environ. Pollut. 79 63–75 Occurrence Handle15091915 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhslCrsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0269-7491(93)90179-R

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forman R.T.T. 1995. Land Mosaics, The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions. Cambridge University Press.

  • R.T.T. Forman L.E. Alexander (1998) ArticleTitleRoads and their major ecological effects Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 29 207–231 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.A. Forys C.R. Allen D.P. Wojcik (2002) ArticleTitleInfluence of the proximity and amount of human development and roads on the occurrence of the red imported fire ant in the lower Florida Keys Biol. Conserv. 108 27–37 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00086-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.W. Frankie D.L. Morgan (1984) Role of the host plant and parasites in regulating insect herbivore abundancewith an emphasis on gall-inducing insects Price Slobodchikoff Gaud (Eds) A New Ecology John Wiley & Sons New York 101–140

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Inbar D. Wool (1995) ArticleTitlePhloem-feeding specialists sharing a host tree: resource partitioning minimizes interference competition among galling aphid species Oikos 73 109–119

    Google Scholar 

  • B.B. Lamont R.G. Rees E.T.F. Witkowski V.A. Whitten (1994) ArticleTitleComparative sizefecundity and ecophysiology of roadside plants of Banksia hookeriana J. Appl. Ecol. 31 137–144

    Google Scholar 

  • D.C. Lightfoot W.G. Whitford (1991) ArticleTitleProductivity of creosotebush foliage and associated canopy arthropods along a desert roadside Am. Midland Nat. 125 310–322 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2426235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Martel (1995) ArticleTitlePerformance of Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera, Tephritidae) and Epiblema Scudderiana (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), 2 gall-formers of goldenrod, in roadside environments Environ. Entomol.. 24 697–706

    Google Scholar 

  • J.-J.I. Martinez (2002) Gall-inducing Aphids (Fordini) on Pistacia Trees: Ecological and Genetical Studies of Metapopulations University of Tel Aviv Tel Aviv, Israel (in Hebrew)

    Google Scholar 

  • J.-J.Y. Martinez D. Wool (2003) ArticleTitleDifferential response of trees and shrubs to browsing and pruning: the effects on Pistacia growth and gall-inducing aphids Plant Ecol. 169 285–294 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026085307964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Norton M.S. Smith (1999) ArticleTitleWhy might roadside mulgas be better mistletoe hosts? Aust. J. Ecol. 24 193–198 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1442-9993.1999.00962.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P.W. Price (1991) ArticleTitleThe plant vigor hypothesis and herbivore attack Oikos 62 244–251

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Price H. Roininen J. Tahvanainen (1997) ArticleTitleWillow tree shoot module length and the attack and survial pattern of a shoot-galling sawfly, Euura atra (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) Entomol. Fennica 8 113–119

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Sokal J. Bird B. Riska (1980) ArticleTitleGeographic variation in Pemphigus populi caulis in Eastern North America Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 14 163–200

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Sokal B. Riska (1981) ArticleTitleGeographic variations in Pemphigus populi transversus (Insecta: Aphididae) Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 15 201–233

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Sokal F.J. Rohlf (1981) Biometry, 2nd ed Freeman San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistix. Version 4.0. Analytical Software. P.O.Box 12185. Tallahassee FL 32317–2185. USA.

  • S.C. Trombulak C.A. Frissell (2000) ArticleTitleReview of ecological effects of roads on terrestrial and aquatic communities Conserv. Biol. 14 18–30 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.99084.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.-L. Viskari S. Kössi J.K. Holopainen (2000) ArticleTitleNorway spuce shoot aphid as indicators of traffic pollution Environ. Pollut. 107 305–314 Occurrence Handle15092976 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXhslOktbo%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00179-7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W. Vökl (1989) ArticleTitleResource partitioning in a guild of aphid species associated with creeping thistle Cirsium arvense Entomol. Exp. Appl. 51 41–47 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00343442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. Wool (1995) ArticleTitleAphids-induced galls on Pistacia in the natural Mediterranean forest of Israel: whichwhereand how many? Israel J. Zool. 41 591–600

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Wool (2002) ArticleTitleHerbivore abundance is independent of weather? A 20-year study of a galling aphidBaizongia pistaciae (Homoptera: Aphidoidea) Popul. Ecol. 44 281–291 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s101440200032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wool D. 2003. Gall-inducing aphids: biology, ecology and evolution. In: Raman Schaefer and Withers (eds), Biology, Ecology, and Evolution of Gall-inducing Arthropods. Science Publishers Inc., Enfield, New Hempshire. In press.

  • D. Wool O. Manheim (1988) ArticleTitleThe effects of host-plant properties on the gall density, gall weight and clone size in the aphid Aploneura lentisci (Pass.) (Aphididae: Fordinae) in Israel Res. Popul. Ecol. 30 227–234

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Yukawa (2000) ArticleTitleSynchronization of gallers with host plant phenology Popul. Ecol. 42 105–113 Occurrence Handle10.1007/PL00011989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Zar (1984) Biostatistical Analysis, 2nd ed Prentice-Hall International (UK) Limited London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Zohary (1952) ArticleTitleA monographical study of the genus Pistacia Palestine J. Bot. 5 187–228

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J-J. (I.) Martinez

    Present address: Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, Tel-Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee, 12210, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, George S. Wise faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    J-J. (I.) Martinez & D. Wool

Authors
  1. J-J. (I.) Martinez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Wool
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J-J. (I.) Martinez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martinez, JJ.(., Wool, D. Sampling Bias in Roadsides: The Case of Galling Aphids on Pistacia Trees. Biodivers Conserv 15, 2109–2121 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-6685-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-6685-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation