Effects of Gypsy Moth Defoliation on Host Plant Utilization by Papilio canadensis and Papilio glaucus
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Authors
Sands, William C., IV
Issue Date
1998
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The defoliation caused by gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar) can have negative
effects on other phytophagus species. At the Kellogg Biological Station's Long Term
Ecological Research facility, there are four plots of Populus trees that have been
consecutively defoliated for three years by gypsy moth larvae. It has been hypothesized
that defoliation can induce a defensive response by the plant. Papilio canadensis and
Papilio glaucus swallowtail butterflies were implemented to explore this theory. It is
well documented that P. canadensis can detoxify Populus and that P. glaucus cannot.
These two butterflies were hybridized to create a more sensitized caterpillar for use in
bioassay studies to identify whether the Populus exhibits an induced defense. Both
lifetime and 72-hour feeding experiments were conducted to test the hybrids and this
hypothesis. These experiments were inconclusive and yielded data that do not provide
any statistical significance which supports the hypothesis.
Description
vii, 37 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.