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Blossey, B. and M. Schat, 1997. Performance of Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera,
Chrysomelidae) on Different North American Populations of Purple Loosestrife, Cornell
University.
Reprinted from Environmental Entomology (1997) 26(2): 439-445
Performance of Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera,
Chrysomelidae) on Different North American Populations of Purple Loosestrife
Abstract
The success of a biological weed control program depends on the ability of control agents
to develop on various genotypes of their host plants, thereby reducing the competitive
ability of the target plant species. We studied the performance of the chrysomelid beetle Galerucella
calmariensis L., introduced as a biological control agent of purple loosestrife, Lythrum
salicaria L., on plants from 3 different North American populations. Plants
for the experiments were obtained from Ithaca, NY; St. Paul, MN; and Salem, OR,
representing different climates and colonization histories. We studied the survival and
impact of G. calmariensis at 3 herbivore densities with plants grown under identical
conditions at Ithaca. Plant growth and biomass allocation patterns were significantly
different among the 3 tested populations. Survival rates of the leaf beetles (egg to
adult) were not significantly different among sites or among herbivore attack levels.
Herbivory caused significant reductions in plant height, leaf, shoot, root, and total
plant biomass with increasing attack levels. We found no significant interaction of
herbivory and plant origin. Plants compensated for the loss of photosynthetic tissues by
replacing foliage at the expense of below ground storage, thus, herbivory altered the
biomass allocation pattern of L. salicari. This might have important implications
for other control agents attacking the roots of L. salicaria.
Entire Paper
Contact: Bernd Blossey, Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: Purple_loosestrife, Aquatic_plant_management, Biological_control
Product Type: Research, Control
User Type: Resource Management
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