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Odour Environments: How Does Plant Diversity Affect Herbivore and Parasitoid Orientation?

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117687
  • Plant diversity is known to affect success of host location by pest insects, but its effect on olfactory orientation of non-pest insect species has hardly been addressed. First, we tested in laboratory experiments the hypothesis that non-host plants, which increase odour complexity in habitats, affect the host location ability of herbivores and parasitoids. Furthermore, we recorded field data of plant diversity in addition to herbivore and parasitoid abundance at 77 grassland sites in three different regions in Germany in order to elucidatePlant diversity is known to affect success of host location by pest insects, but its effect on olfactory orientation of non-pest insect species has hardly been addressed. First, we tested in laboratory experiments the hypothesis that non-host plants, which increase odour complexity in habitats, affect the host location ability of herbivores and parasitoids. Furthermore, we recorded field data of plant diversity in addition to herbivore and parasitoid abundance at 77 grassland sites in three different regions in Germany in order to elucidate whether our laboratory results reflect the field situation. As a model system we used the herb Plantago lanceolata, the herbivorous weevil Mecinus pascuorum, and its larval parasitoid Mesopolobus incultus. The laboratory bioassays revealed that both the herbivorous weevil and its larval parasitoid can locate their host plant and host via olfactory cues even in the presence of non-host odour. In a newly established two-circle olfactometer, the weevils capability to detect host plant odour was not affected by odours from non-host plants. However, addition of non-host plant odours to host plant odour enhanced the weevils foraging activity. The parasitoid was attracted by a combination of host plant and host volatiles in both the absence and presence of non-host plant volatiles in a Y-tube olfactometer. In dual choice tests the parasitoid preferred the blend of host plant and host volatiles over its combination with non-host plant volatiles. In the field, no indication was found that high plant diversity disturbs host (plant) location by the weevil and its parasitoid. In contrast, plant diversity was positively correlated with weevil abundance, whereas parasitoid abundance was independent of plant diversity. Therefore, we conclude that weevils and parasitoids showed the sensory capacity to successfully cope with complex vegetation odours when searching for hosts.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Nicole Wäschke, Kerstin Hardge, Christine Hancock, Monika Hilker, Elisabeth Obermaier, Torsten Meiners
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117687
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Fakultät für Biologie / Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Language:English
Parent Title (English):PlOS ONE
ISSN:1932-6203
Year of Completion:2014
Volume:9
Issue:1
Pagenumber:e85152
Source:PLoS ONE 9(1): e85152. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085152
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085152
Pubmed Id:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24416354
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
Tag:background odor; dentichasmias busseolae; foraging behavior; invertebrate herbivory; location behavior; natural enemies; nonhost plant; selection; volatiles
Release Date:2015/08/24
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung