MPI-CE Institutsseminar

Abstract:
Few experiments have demonstrated that plant chemistry affect nutritional symbionts of herbivores. Variation in the performance of nutritional symbionts relative to plant phenotypes may be a mechanism that indirectly mediates herbivore abundances and adaptive radiation. Symbiotic interactions are prevalent in all bark beetle communities and many are obligate associates that affect beetle- tree interactions. Can phytochemical variation in a foundation pine species be a mechanism for regulating an herbivore-microbial community? Using both field and laboratory assays, we tested the effects of phloem chemistry on the performance of bark beetles and associated microbes. Bark beetles and their microbial symbionts responded to chemical variation present at the landscape scale. Tree chemical diversity may fundamentally alter the nature of interactions among microbial symbionts in this system and affect the performance of bark beetles. Chemodiversity of trees may be an important indicator of long-term forest response to biotic disturbance.