Caterpillars escape predation in habitat and thermal refuges

1. Climate and, therefore, abiotic conditions, are changing rapidly, and many ecological interactions depend on them. In this study, how abiotic conditions mediate a predator–prey interaction were examined. 2. Caterpillars of Platyprepia virginalis (Boisduval) (Arctiidae) were found previously to be more abundant in wet habitats and thick litter cover compared with drier habitats and little or no litter. We hypothesised that wet litter provided caterpillars with refuges from an important ant predator, Formica lasioides. It was further hypothesised that caterpillars would be able to move at lower temperatures than ants, thus providing them with a thermal refuge. 3. In the lab, caterpillars were more likely to escape ant predation and survive on wet litter and at lower temperatures. At all temperatures, ant recruitment was lower in wet litter than dry litter although ants were more active on litter than bare soil. Thus, wet litter may serve as a habitat refuge for caterpillars from ants. 4. Caterpillars were able to maintain activity at temperatures 8–14 °C lower than F. lasioides. Thus colder temperatures may serve as a thermal refuge for caterpillars from ants. 5. It was hypothesised that caterpillars can escape ant predation when precipitation causes wet litter and at temperatures that they experience commonly in the field. This mismatch between caterpillars and their predators in ability to tolerate wet litter and low temperatures may affect their field distribution and abundance. Expected future warmer and drier conditions may not provide these refuges.     

中国不产曲籽芋属植物

曲籽芋属在中国的分布源自对采自海南的一号标本———W.T.Tsang（曾怀德）553=L.U.16052（1927年8月27日采）的错误鉴定。这号标本被E.D.Merrill定名为曲籽芋Cyrtosperma lasioides Griffith,并分藏于国内外的标本馆。因此,《海南植物志》第四卷、《中国植物志》第十三卷第二分册、《中国种子植物科属词典》以及吴征镒的《中国种子植物属的分布区类型》一文等都记录了曲籽芋属。收藏在中国科学院华南植物研究所、英国邱皇家植物园和爱丁堡皇家植物园的W.T.Tsang（