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Heterogeneity and density dependence in a field study of a tephritid‐parasitoid interaction
Author(s) -
REDFERN M.,
JONES T. H.,
HASSELL M. P.
Publication year - 1992
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.1365-2311.1992.tb01056.x
Subject(s) - parasitoid , parasitism , biology , tephritidae , generalist and specialist species , ecology , thistle , host (biology) , population density , density dependence , population , pest analysis , habitat , botany , demography , sociology
.1 The spatial distributions of two tephritid flies ( Urophora stylata (Fabricius) and Terellia serratulae L.) attacking thistle flower heads and the levels of parasitism from their associated parasitoid guilds were studied over a 7‐year period. 2 Using these data it is possible to seek both temporal, density dependent relationships between average levels of parasitism and host density per generation, and also any spatial patterns of parasitism contributing to stability that may be operating within the same field system. 3 Parasitism by the two most important generalist parasitoids of T.serratulae is a direct function of average T.serratulae density per year. There is little evidence of any stabilizing heterogeneity arising from the spatial distribution of parasitism within generations. 4 Temporal density dependence of Urophora stylata cannot be confirmed from the 7 years of study but there is evidence of spatial heterogeneity which may have an important effect on the dynamics of the host population.