Biological control agent attack timing and population variability, but not density, best explain target weed density across an environmental gradient.

ABSTRACT: Spatial variation in plant-herbivore interactions can be important in pest systems, particularly when insect herbivores are used as biological control agents to manage invasive plants. The geographic ranges of the invasive plant alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) and its biological control agent the alligatorweed flea beetle (Agasicles hygrophila) do not completely overlap in the southeastern USA, producing spatial heterogeneity in interaction strength that may be related to latitude-correlated environmental gradients. We studied this system near the range margin of the alligatorweed flea beetle to test whether spatial variation in alligatorweed density was best explained by agent mean or maximum density, variability in agent density, agent attack timing, or a combination of biolo

SUBMITTER: Harms N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7338522 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature