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Size and shape analysis of mineral resources in arroyo willow and their relation to sawfly densities
Author(s) -
Boecklen William J.,
Mopper Susan,
Price Peter W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/bf02347131
Subject(s) - sawfly , willow , nutrient , biology , herbivore , tenthredinidae , botany , salicaceae , agronomy , ecology , woody plant , hymenoptera
The association between host‐plant mineral nutrients and insect herbivory is complex, idiosyncratic, and dynamic. Because of this we employed an unusual statistical method to evaluate the relationship between tenthredinid sawfly herbivory and concentrations of foliar nutrients in arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis . We discovered that among 20 willow clones and between two years arroyo willow varied in the size (absolute concentrations) and shape (relative concentrations) of five mineral nutrients (Ca, Mg, N, P, and K). Similarly, the densities of five sawfly species varied in size and shape among clones and between years. In 1984, relative densities, or shape, of the sawfly community was associated with relative concentrations, or shape, of foliar nutrients in 20 willow clones. In contrast, in 1985 absolute densities, or size, was associated with absolute concentrations, or size, of foliar nutrients. This shift from a shape to a size association between herbivory and foliar mineral nutrients may reflect the large difference in winter precipitation and sawfly densities between years: precipitation and sawfly densities were much greater in 1985 than in 1984.