Effects of frost and neighborhood on Tephritid fly herbivory of <i>Erigeron speciosus</i>
Abstract
With earlier snowmelt, the impacts of a late frost in the Rocky Mountains have been more consequential for the production of flowers in species such as Erigeron speciosus. Several species of Tephritid flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are pre-dispersal seed herbivores of E. speciosus. The neighborhood around an individual plant has been shown to play an important role in plant fitness/life history of an individual. In addition, plant neighborhoods have been found to have an impact on Tephritid fly behavior. This study examined the direct and indirect impacts of frost and neighborhood on Tephritid fly herbivory of Erigeron speciosus. In addition, it investigated how frost affects adult Tephritid fly abundance. This study was conducted by establishing plots at sites with different levels of frost. Data were analyzed in RStudio using ANOVA, linear models and a structural equation model. Result suggest that frost and neighborhood have a significant impact of Erigeron herbivory. In addition, there were significantly more Tephritids in areas with low frost than in area with high frost. These results indicate that climate change is having many direct and indirect impacts on biological systems and both such impacts must be examined to more holistically understand the effects of climate change.
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References (27)
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