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How specialist and generalist herbivores are responding to invasive plant threats

Shewhart, Lauren Elizabeth
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4021-3049
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1462797971

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
The purpose of this study was to investigate novel interactions of native herbivores (Abia inflata, Abia americana, Zaschizonyx montana, and Hyphantria cunea) with non-native plants in Ohio. No-choice and choice bioassays were conducted with adults and larvae to examine life history traits, performance, and preference of these herbivores feeding exclusively on native and non-native species and damaged and undamaged foliage. It was found that all organisms in this study can perform well and complete their whole life cycle on L. maackii. Adult A. americana will oviposit in non-native hosts however newly emerged larvae have 100% larval mortality on L. japonica. A. inflata had a reduction in larval mass on herbivore damaged foliage but not artificially damaged foliage. Some non-native species (L. maackii, L. tatarica and P. calleryana) appear to be suitable host for H. cunea, whereas other non-native species (L. japonica, E. alatus, and E. umbellata) are unsuitable hosts for early larval development. When given a choice H. cunea caterpillars preferred native foliage. These studies could benefit efforts at using these native insects as biocontrol agents for L. maackii or other non-native, invaders.
Don Cipollini, Ph.D. (Advisor)
John Stireman, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Thomas Rooney, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
145 p.
Biology; Ecology; Environmental Science
Novel plant insect interactions; invasive plants; Abia inflata; Abia americana; Zaschizonyx montanta; Hyphantria cunea;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shewhart, L. E. (2016). How specialist and generalist herbivores are responding to invasive plant threats [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1462797971

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shewhart, Lauren. How specialist and generalist herbivores are responding to invasive plant threats. 2016. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1462797971.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shewhart, Lauren. "How specialist and generalist herbivores are responding to invasive plant threats." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1462797971

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1462797971
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.