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Braz J Biol

Title:		Plant Vigor Hypothesis refuted: preference-performance linkage of a gall-inducing weevil on small-sized host plant resources
Author(s):		Santos JC; Tavares CB; Almeida-Cortez JS;
Address:		"Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil"
Journal Title:		Braz J Biol
Year:		2011
Volume:		71
Issue:		1
Page Number:		65 - 69
DOI:		10.1590/s1519-69842011000100010
ISSN/ISBN:		1678-4375 (Electronic) 1519-6984 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) predicts an oviposition preference of females and higher offspring performance for insect herbivores on longer and fast-growing plant modules. We tested the PVH predictions by investigating the effects of leaf size of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae) on the oviposition preference and on the offspring survival of the gall-inducing weevil Prospoliata bicolorata (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Additionally, we analysed the effects of top-down mortality force on this system. Approximately 83% of the developed galls resulted in adults of P. bicolorata, whereas 17% of the galls successfully induced were killed by natural enemies (top-down effect). Leaves of intermediate size were more abundant while smaller and longer leaves were rare. Nevertheless, the percentage of P. bicolorata galls was higher on the smallest leaves of M. prasina, refuting the preference prediction of the PVH. Our results also refuted the performance prediction: the ratio of survival per leaf was negatively related to the leaf length. Thus, we found a link between female preference and larval performance of P. bicolorata on small-sized leaves of M. prasina. The next goal is to understand the mechanisms involved in the selection of gall-inducing weevil on short leaves of its host plant"
Keywords:		Animals Female Host-Parasite Interactions Melastomataceae/anatomy & histology/*parasitology Oviposition/*physiology Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology/*parasitology Plant Tumors/*parasitology Weevils/*physiology;
Notes:		"MedlineSantos, J C Tavares, C B Almeida-Cortez, J S eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Brazil 2011/03/26 Braz J Biol. 2011 Feb; 71(1):65-9. doi: 10.1590/s1519-69842011000100010"