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Patch Dynamics of a Phytophagous Mite Population: Effect of Number of Subpopulations
Author(s) -
Walde Sandra J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1940959
Subject(s) - panonychus ulmi , predation , biology , orchard , predator , mite , population , ecology , spider mite , biological pest control , demography , sociology
I conducted a field test of the hypothesis that the dynamics of a predator—prey interaction should be affected by the number of interacting subpopulations within an assemblage. I used a "successful" biological control system, the phytophagous European red mite (Panonychus ulmi) and its predator, the phytoseiid mite Typhlodromus pyri. An orchard was established where apple trees were arranged in groups of 1, 4, or 16 and the dynamics of the mite populations on the trees followed over a season. The pests reached highest densities and were most persistent on trees in the largest groups. These results are explained in terms of an interaction between prey immigration/emigration and predation.