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Can competition explain local rarity of a nettle aphid?
Author(s) -
Kean John M.,
Müller Christine B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.0307-6946.2004.00648.x
Subject(s) - biology , aphid , competition (biology) , urtica dioica , botany , abundance (ecology) , population , ecology , demography , sociology
. 1. Previous studies have shown that two aphid species, Microlophium carnosum and Aphis urticata on stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) show very different abundance patterns. 2. Theory suggests that the local rarity of A. urticata in Silwood Park, U.K., might be explained by competitive exclusion by the more common species, mediated indirectly through natural enemies. Experimental aphid colonies on potted nettles were used to test for effects of M. carnosum on A. urticata in the field. 3. Though there was some evidence that natural enemies aggregated on the aphid colonies, no population‐level effects of competition from M. carnosum on A. urticata could be detected. No evidence was found for competition being a major factor causing the local rarity of A. urticata .