The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest
Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are probably the most effective and abundant parasitoids of the horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella), an alien pest in Europe that lacks specialized enemies. We studied how the species richness and abundance of chalcids are influenced by altitude,...
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doaj-8c6d6184c4eb403199a5ed0d261601a62020-11-24T23:00:30ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-01-014e159210.7717/peerj.1592The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pestPetra Nováková0Jaroslav Holuša1Jakub Horák2Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forest Protection and Entomology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forest Protection and Entomology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicChalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are probably the most effective and abundant parasitoids of the horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella), an alien pest in Europe that lacks specialized enemies. We studied how the species richness and abundance of chalcids are influenced by altitude, direction of an alien spread and host abundance of C. ohridella. We quantified the numbers and species richness of chalcid wasps and the numbers of C. ohridella that emerged from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) leaf litter samples collected from 35 sites in the Czech Republic. Species richness of chalcids, which was considered an indicator of the possible adaptation of parasitoids to this alien host, was unrelated to C. ohridella abundance, direction of spread, or altitude. Chalcid abundance, which was considered an indicator of parasitism of the alien host, was strongly and positively related to C. ohridella abundance. Chalcid abundance was negatively related to direction of spread and positively related, although in a non-linear manner, to altitude. The relationship of chalcid abundance with direction of spread and altitude was weaker than that with C. ohridella abundance. The results provide evidence that biological control of the alien pest C. ohridella by natural enemies might develop in the future.https://peerj.com/articles/1592.pdfAesculus hippocastanumHorse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella)Leaf blotch miner moths (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)AltitudeSpread direction |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Petra Nováková Jaroslav Holuša Jakub Horák |
spellingShingle |
Petra Nováková Jaroslav Holuša Jakub Horák The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest PeerJ Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) Leaf blotch miner moths (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Altitude Spread direction |
author_facet |
Petra Nováková Jaroslav Holuša Jakub Horák |
author_sort |
Petra Nováková |
title |
The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
title_short |
The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
title_full |
The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
title_fullStr |
The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
title_full_unstemmed |
The role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
title_sort |
role of geography and host abundance in the distribution of parasitoids of an alien pest |
publisher |
PeerJ Inc. |
series |
PeerJ |
issn |
2167-8359 |
publishDate |
2016-01-01 |
description |
Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are probably the most effective and abundant parasitoids of the horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella), an alien pest in Europe that lacks specialized enemies. We studied how the species richness and abundance of chalcids are influenced by altitude, direction of an alien spread and host abundance of C. ohridella. We quantified the numbers and species richness of chalcid wasps and the numbers of C. ohridella that emerged from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) leaf litter samples collected from 35 sites in the Czech Republic. Species richness of chalcids, which was considered an indicator of the possible adaptation of parasitoids to this alien host, was unrelated to C. ohridella abundance, direction of spread, or altitude. Chalcid abundance, which was considered an indicator of parasitism of the alien host, was strongly and positively related to C. ohridella abundance. Chalcid abundance was negatively related to direction of spread and positively related, although in a non-linear manner, to altitude. The relationship of chalcid abundance with direction of spread and altitude was weaker than that with C. ohridella abundance. The results provide evidence that biological control of the alien pest C. ohridella by natural enemies might develop in the future. |
topic |
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) Leaf blotch miner moths (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Altitude Spread direction |
url |
https://peerj.com/articles/1592.pdf |
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