Premium
An Aphid Population Explosion Induced by Chronic Gamma Irradiation of a Forest
Author(s) -
Woodwell G. M.,
Brower J. H.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936519
Subject(s) - aphid , biology , population , gamma irradiation , botany , ecology , horticulture , irradiation , demography , physics , sociology , nuclear physics
A population explosion of the aphid, Myzocallis discolor, occurred on white oaks (Quercus alba) damaged by chronic gamma irradiation. Oaks exposed to 9.5 R/day during 18 months supported maximum aphid populations of 25 winged adults per leaf (350,000/m 2 of forest). The aphid was not found in the undamaged forest. The irruption was correlated with changes in predator populations and with small changes in the sugar, total N and lipid content of white oak leaves. The relative importance of these two sets of factors could not be determined.