Ecology and Evolution of the Pitcher‐plant Mosquito. 3. Resource Tracking by a Natural Population

Istock, Conrad A.; Vavra, Karen J.; Zimmer, Harold

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1976.tb00932.x

Cited by 35 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…These results support our final hypothesis, that the performance of the dominant tree hole consumer is differentially affected by the inputs of animal versus plant detritus. Animal detritus inputs into pitcher plants are critical for the success of associated invertebrate populations and communities (Istock et al. , 1976; Cresswell, 1998, 2000; Sota et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, Barrera (1996) found that A. albopictus (Skuse) was superior in competition to A. aegypti when raised on leaves, but competitive asymmetry was reversed when the detritus was derived from animal tissue (liver powder). In another aquatic microsystem, pitcher plants, the effects of invertebrate carcasses are well known, as animal detritus is a major determinant of invertebrate consumer abundance and diversity (Istock, Vavra & Zimmer, 1976; Cresswell, 1998, 2000; Sota, Mogi & Kato, 1998). For instance, the abundance of the mosquito Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett) has been shown to be positively related to abundance of animal detritus in pitcher plants, and negative effects of density dependence can be minimised by additions of animal detritus (Bradshaw & Holzapfel, 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Consequences of detritus type in an aquatic microsystem: effects on water quality, micro‐organisms and performance of the dominant consumer

2006

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SUMMARY1. Variation in detritus quality and quantity can have significant effects on aquatic invertebrate food webs. Allochthonous inputs of detritus are the principal energy source for organisms in aquatic tree hole microsystems. We compared the effects of two major detritus types found in tree holes, senescent leaves (Sugar Maple and White Oak) and invertebrate carcasses (dead adult fruit flies and crickets), on several water quality characteristics of laboratory microcosms as well as on mass, survival and population performance of the dominant tree hole consumer, Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae). To date, no study has documented the effects of animal detritus in tree hole microsystems or on resident consumers.2. Aquatic environments receiving invertebrate carcasses had significantly greater total nitrogen, total reactive phosphorus and higher pH, than leaf-based environments. Decay rate of invertebrate carcasses was greater compared to leaf material. Consumption of O 2 by micro-organisms increased with increasing detritus amounts, but we detected no difference between detritus types.3. Ochlerotatus triseriatus larvae grew faster in animal-based treatments, and mean mass of larvae was significantly greater when more animal detritus was used. The effect of animal-based treatments on larvae translated into higher performance for adults, which were three times heavier than counterparts from plant-based containers. Survivorship and estimated population growth rates were significantly greater for O. triseriatus reared on animal-based versus plant-based detritus.4. We hypothesise two mechanisms for the pronounced effect of invertebrate carcasses on mosquito performance relative to that associated with leaf detritus: (i) invertebrate carcasses decompose more quickly and release nutrients more effectively into the aquatic environment; or (ii) O. triseriatus larvae may directly ingest nutrient-rich components of invertebrate carcasses. Because even relatively small animal detritus additions can have strong effects on O. triseriatus populations, studies need to be conducted to explore the overall role of animal detritus in tree holes in nature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of detritus type in an aquatic microsystem: effects on water quality, micro‐organisms and performance of the dominant consumer

2006

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“…First, the plants may have varied in their ability to accumulate sucient necromass to support certain inquiline taxa (Jenkins et al 1992;Istock et al 1976). Second, morphological variation among plants may have in¯uenced the rate of colonisation by inquilines because the oviposition choices made by gravid dipteran adults were related to pitcher morphology (Fish and Hall 1978;Bradshaw 1983;Heard 1994c; but see Mogi and Mokry 1980).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some instances, the inquilines form a fairly complex food web containing detritivores, grazers and predators (Beaver 1985;Clarke and Kitching 1993). Variation in the amount of necromass that is accumulated is likely to impact on the constitution of the inquiline community that is, ultimately, dependent on it for resources (Istock et al 1976;Naeem 1988). For example, the availability of necromass may determine the intensity of competition between species that share it as a resource (Naeem 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological correlates of necromass accumulation in the traps of an Eastern tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, and observations on the pitcher infauna and its reconstitution following experimental removal

Cresswell

1998

Oecologia

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I studied the trap morphology, necromass accumulation rates and pitcher infauna of an eastern tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes ampullaria, that grew in `kerangas' heath forest in the Sungei Ingei Conservation Area, Brunei. I surveyed 164 pitchers distributed among 35 plants and extracted the necromass and larval infauna from the pitchers and then resampled the pitcher contents after 14 days. Plants varied significantly in the morphology of their pitchers, in their rate of necromass accumulation per pitcher and in the abundance and composition of the pitcher infaunas. On average, pitchers accumulated 11.5 mg dry weight over 14 days, but larger pitchers accumulated more necromass than smaller ones. Pitcher morphology explained 45% of the variation in necromass accumulation among plants. On average, pitchers initially contained 26.3 individual larval inquilines. Collectively, the larval infauna was composed of nine taxa of dipteran larvae and infrequent anuran tadpoles. These ten taxa were never found together in a single pitcher and the mean species richness per pitcher was 4.0. Of the six taxa that could be assessed, all except Toxorhynchites spp. had a contagious distribution among the pitchers. Pitcher morphology and necromass accumulation explained only 15% of the variation in inquiline abundance among plants. I found little evidence for the existence of density-dependent interactions between inquiline species: a partial correlation analysis detected only one statistically significant pairwise relationship between the abundances of inquiline taxa, which was a positive association. Fourteen days after being emptied, pitchers contained an average of 9.6 inquilines. There was no evidence that the species composition of the infauna recolonising each pitcher was related to that of its pre-removal infauna.

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“…Léonard & Juliano, 1995;Walker et al , 1997 ;Srivastava & Lawton, 1998 ), nutrient-bearing stem flow (e.g. In pitcher-plant microsystems, external inputs of dead insects shape patterns of invertebrate abundance and diversity ( Istock et al , 1976;Cresswell, 1998Cresswell, , 2000Sota et al , 1998 ). In pitcher-plant microsystems, external inputs of dead insects shape patterns of invertebrate abundance and diversity ( Istock et al , 1976;Cresswell, 1998Cresswell, , 2000Sota et al , 1998 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colonisation of Heliconia caribaea by aquatic invertebrates: resource and microsite characteristics

Yee

Willig

2007

Ecological Entomology

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1. Colonisation of ephemeral aquatic habitats via oviposition by invertebrates may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the quality of aquatic habitat and the characteristics of the surrounding terrestrial environment. The waterholding bracts of Heliconia caribaea , a subtropical herb that produces ephemeral aquatic habitats, are colonised by a variety of aquatic invertebrates. To date, no experiments have been conducted to identify the cues that affect colonisation patterns via oviposition selection in Heliconia .2. Artificial bracts were used to assess the influence of two types of resources found in bracts (plant produced carbohydrates and terrestrial snail faeces) on oviposition siteselection by invertebrate taxa via a replicated factorial design at four locations in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, U.S.A. Eleven microsite characteristics thought to affect oviposition were measured for each experimental container.3. Most taxa responded in a minor way to microsite characteristics, whereas site selection by the most numerically dominant groups (e.g. Syrphidae) were influenced principally by resources within artificial bracts. Overall, the greatest response by particular taxa was to the presence of snail faeces. At the community level, total abundance, richness, and evenness of invertebrates increased with increasing biomass of faeces. Variation in sugar produced a more complex response.4. In general, the terrestrial matrix surrounding these aquatic habitats was only a secondary determinant of population and community attributes; the principal factor affecting site selection was the quality of the aquatic habitat.

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Ecology and Evolution of the Pitcher‐plant Mosquito. 3. Resource Tracking by a Natural Population

Cited by 35 publications

References 12 publications

Consequences of detritus type in an aquatic microsystem: effects on water quality, micro‐organisms and performance of the dominant consumer

Consequences of detritus type in an aquatic microsystem: effects on water quality, micro‐organisms and performance of the dominant consumer

Morphological correlates of necromass accumulation in the traps of an Eastern tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, and observations on the pitcher infauna and its reconstitution following experimental removal

Colonisation of Heliconia caribaea by aquatic invertebrates: resource and microsite characteristics

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