Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2006

Herbivory

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Woy '06: Spicebush Provides A Salad Bar To Some Caterpillars, W. John Hayden Feb 2006

Woy '06: Spicebush Provides A Salad Bar To Some Caterpillars, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

While many wildflower enthusiasts appreciate spicebush (Lindera benzoin), the 2006 Virginia Wildflower of the Year, for its subtle beauty, plant ecologists have found this humble shrub to be a fruitful subject for scientific inquiry. The notes that follow relay just a few of the interesting nuggets that can be gleaned from a cursory study of the scientific literature about this plant.

Go to article

Invasive Insect Abundance Varies Across The Biogeographic Distribution Of A Native Host Plant, Tatyana A. Rand, Svata M. Louda Jan 2006

Invasive Insect Abundance Varies Across The Biogeographic Distribution Of A Native Host Plant, Tatyana A. Rand, Svata M. Louda

Svata M. Louda Publications

Studies of biogeographic variation in species abundances are fundamental to understanding and predicting the impacts of invasive exotic species. We quantified the abundance of the introduced and now invasive biocontrol weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus, on a newly adopted native host plant, Cirsium canescens (Platte thistle), across the plant’s distributional range. We used regression and structural equation analyses to examine variation in weevil abundance at 92–108 sites over three years in relation to variation in abiotic and biotic parameters hypothesized to be important in insect or plant dynamics and distribution. We found that R. conicus now occurs throughout the majority of …

Go to article