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Dynamic interaction between a leaf beetle, Galerucella nipponensis , and an aquatic plant, Trapa japonica . II. Dispersal behavior of larvae
Author(s) -
Tanaka M.,
Nakasuji F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/s101440200000
Subject(s) - biology , biological dispersal , larva , leaf beetle , hatchling , rosette (schizont appearance) , botany , japonica , ecology , hatching , population , demography , sociology , immunology
The dispersal behavior of the larvae of a leaf beetle, Galerucella nipponensis , was investigated to analyze the dynamic interaction between the leaf beetle and its aquatic host plant, Trapa japonica . The hatchlings dispersed from the hatched leaf to other leaves in a rosette within 12 h. Some larvae even dispersed on the water surface. As a result, the hatchlings distributed uniformly within the rosette. This larval dispersal appeared to be adaptive behavior responding to a rapid turnover of T. japonica leaves. The female adults preferred young or middle‐aged leaves to old leaves as oviposition sites.