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Impact of simulated mechanical defoliation caused by Zeiraphera canadensis (spruce bud moth) on food resource availability on Picea glauca (white spruce) in subsequent years Then, May Anne

Abstract

Zeiraphera canadensis (spruce bud moth) larvae feed on newly burst buds of Picea glauca (white spruce). It has been observed that Z. canadensis herbivory on apical shoots leads to loss of apical dominance and the release of dormant buds in subsequent years due to shoot damage. It has also been observed that there is greater success of larval colonization in years following herbivory. This paper explores whether Z. canadensis herbivory increases the amount of food resource available for subsequent generations by simulating mechanical defoliation in a controlled experiment. The results rejected our original hypothesis and total buds produced was found to decrease with increasing herbivory. We did not observe positive resource regulation feedback in the spruce bud moth and white spruce system.

Item Metadata

Title
Impact of simulated mechanical defoliation caused by Zeiraphera canadensis (spruce bud moth) on food resource availability on Picea glauca (white spruce) in subsequent years
Creator
Then, May Anne
Supervisor
Carroll, Allan; El-Kassaby, Yousry A.
Date Issued
2015-04
Description
Zeiraphera canadensis (spruce bud moth) larvae feed on newly burst buds of Picea glauca (white spruce). It has been observed that Z. canadensis herbivory on apical shoots leads to loss of apical dominance and the release of dormant buds in subsequent years due to shoot damage. It has also been observed that there is greater success of larval colonization in years following herbivory. This paper explores whether Z. canadensis herbivory increases the amount of food resource available for subsequent generations by simulating mechanical defoliation in a controlled experiment. The results rejected our original hypothesis and total buds produced was found to decrease with increasing herbivory. We did not observe positive resource regulation feedback in the spruce bud moth and white spruce system.
Subject
Zeiraphera canadensis; Spruce bud moth; Growth compensation; Herbivory; Food resource feedback; Mechanical defoliation; Picea glauca; White spruce
Genre
Graduating Project
Type
Text
Language
eng
Series
University of British Columbia. FRST 498
Date Available
2015-07-29
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
DOI
10.14288/1.0075646
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/54227
Affiliation
Forestry, Faculty of
Campus
UBCV
Peer Review Status
Unreviewed
Scholarly Level
Undergraduate
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada