Density-dependent foraging behaviors in a parasitoid lead to density-dependent parasitism of its host |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">James?UmbanhowarEmail author John?Maron Susan?Harrison |
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Institution: | (1) Center for Population Biology, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;(2) Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA;(3) Present address: Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Ave, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada |
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Abstract: | Empirical studies of spatial heterogeneity in parasitism by insect parasitoids have focused largely on patterns, while the many possible underlying mechanisms have been little studied in the field. We conducted experimental and observational studies on Tachinomyia similis (Diptera: Tachinidae) attacking western tussock moths (Orgyia vetusta; Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) on lupine bushes at Bodega Bay, Calif., USA. We examined several foraging behaviors that have been hypothesized to create density-dependent variation in parasitism rates, including spatial aggregation of parasitoids to high host density, mutual interference among searching parasitoids and decelerating functional responses of the parasitoid. At the spatial scale of individual bushes, we detected both aggregation to a high density and a decelerating functional response. The resulting spatial pattern of parasitism was best fit by two models; one included an effect of parasitoid aggregation and the other included an effect of aggregation and a decelerating functional response. Most of the variation in parasitism was not correlated with density of O. vetusta. |
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Keywords: | Parasitoid aggregation Functional response Interference Spatial heterogeneity |
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