Plant phenological asynchrony and community structure of gall-inducing insects associated with a tropical tree species.

ABSTRACT: The dynamics of occurrence of target organs in plant populations produces windows of opportunity that directly and indirectly affect the structure of herbivore communities. However, mechanisms that drive herbivore specialization between resource patches are still poorly known. In this study, we tested three hypotheses related to variation in host plant phenology and community structure (i.e., composition, richness, and abundance) of gall-forming species: (a) plants with early leaf-flushing in the season will have greater vegetative growth and high contents of secondary chemical compounds; (b) gall-inducing insect community structure changes among temporary resource patches of the host; and (c) interspecific competition is a probable mechanism that drives gall-inducing insect community stru

SUBMITTER: Fagundes M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6262721 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature