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A photographic technique for tracking herbivory on individual leaves through time *
Author(s) -
HARGROVE WILLIAM W.
Publication year - 1988
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.1365-2311.1988.tb00367.x
Subject(s) - library science , tracking (education) , entomology , citation , biology , sociology , ecology , computer science , pedagogy
Accurate measurement of leaf area removed (LAR) by chewing insect herbivores is used to evaluate progress in insect control, plant breeding, and genetic screening and engineering programs, and to assess impacts of herbivores on ecosystem function (Bray, 1961; Schowalter et uf., 1986). End-of-season estimates of LAR may underestimate herbivory because of hole growth with leaf expansion (Reichle et ul. , 1973) and consumption of entire leaves (Lowman, 1984). This report describes a method for following herbivory through time, yielding more accurate estimates and indicating the seasonal dynamics of herbivory. Manual methods for estimating LAR of attached leaves in the field are labour-intensive, and require that this labour be done under field conditions. These non-destructive techniques (e.g. length on area regression, silhouette tracing (Milthorpe, 1956); manual integration using dotor square-counting (Benjamin et al. , 1968; Negisi et a f . , 1957)) are slow and tedious, operator dependent, and require considerable manipulation in the field. The effort required has precluded their widespread use. Most automated techniqhes for the measurement of LAR involve removal of leaves from the plant. Video integration methods require less