Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sources of mortality for a cynipid gall-wasp (Dryocosmus dubiosus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)): The importance of the Tannin/Fungus interaction

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Emergence success was determined for 1300 galls of the cynipid waspDryocosmus dubiosus. Galls were collected throughout a single host tree (a California coast live oakQuercus agrifolia). Each gall was reared individually in small gelatin capsules. For each gall data was recorded on 17 parameters characterizing hyperparasitism, fungal infestation, leaf tannin levels, inter- and intraspecific competition, and spatial position within the tree. Using contingency table analysis and logistic regression, we determined that the most significant factors influencing the success ofD. dubiosus galls are 1) fungal infestation and 2) chalcid hyperparasitism, both having negative effects. Of the factors investigated we found that leaf tannin level had the strongest influence on the degree of fungal infestation. Fungal infestation, in turn, is lowest in regions of high leaf tannins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Askew RR (1961) On the biology of the inhabitants of oak galls of the Cynipidae in Britain. Trans Soc Bit Entomol 14:237–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Askew RR (1962) The distribution of galls ofNeuroterus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on Oak. J Anim Ecol 34:439–455

    Google Scholar 

  • Askew RR (1975) The organization of chalcid-dominated parasitoid communities centered upon endophytic hosts. In: Price P (ed) Evolutionary strategies of parasitic insects and mites. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Askew RR (1980) The diversity of insect communities in leaf-mites and plant galls. J Anim Ecol 49:817–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate-Smith EC (1973a) Haemanalysis of tannins: the concept of relative astringency. Phytochemistry 12:907–912

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate-Smith EC (1973b) Tannins of the herbaciousLeguminosae. Phytochemistry 12:1809–1812

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate-Smith EC (1977) Astringent tannins of Acer species. Phytochemistry 16:1421–1426

    Google Scholar 

  • Berland L, Bernard F (1951) Ordes des Hymenopteres. In: Grassé P (ed) Traite-de zoologie no 10, pp 771–1276

  • Bishop YMM, Fienberg SF, Holland PW (1975) Discrete multivariate analysis: Theory and practice. Cambridge Mass, The MIT Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown LR, Eads CO (1965) A technical study of insects affecting the oak tree in Southern California. California Agricultural Experiment station, Univ of Calif, Bulletin 810

  • Burnett JA (1977) Biosystematics of the new oak-gall wasp genus, Weldia, of western North America (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). PhD Thesis, UCR Ent

  • Cornell HV (1982) The notion of minimum distance or why rare species are clumped. Oecologia 52:278–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornell HV (1983) The secondary chemistry and complex morphology of galls formed by the Cynipinae (Hymenoptera): Why and How? Am Midland Nat 110:225–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruickshank IAM (1980) Defense triggered by the invader: chemical defenses. In: Horsfall JG, Cowling EB (eds) Plant disease. Vol 5. Academic Press, New York, pp 247–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Doutt RL (1959) Heterogony in Dryocosmus (Hymenoptera Cynipidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 52:69–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Feeny P (1970) Seasonal changes in oak leaf tannins and nutrients as a cause of spring feeding by winter moth caterpillars. Ecology 51:565–581

    Google Scholar 

  • Fienberg SE (1980) The analysis of cross-classified categorical data. Cambridge, Mass. The MIT Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB, Ingham JL (1978) Biochemical aspects of the coevolution of higher plants with their fungal parasites. In: Harborne JB (ed) Biochemical aspects of plant and animal coevolution. Academic Press, New York, pp 343–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris RJ (1975) A primer of multivariate statistics. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Haukioja E, Niemela P (1976) Does birch defend itself actively against herbivores? Rep Kevo Subarctic Res Stu 13:44–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Haukioja E, Niemela P (1977) Retarded growth of a geometrid larva after mechanical damage to leaves of its host tree. Ann Zool Fennici 14:48–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Haukioja E, Niemela P (1979) Birch leaves as a resource for herbivores: Seasonal occurrence of increased resistance in foliage after mechanical damage of adjacent leaves. Oecologia 39:151–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Janzen DH (1977) Why fruits rot, seeds mold, and meat spoils. Am Nat 111:691–713

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn DM, Cornell HV (1983) Early leaf abscission and folivores: comments and considerations. Am Nat 122:428–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey AC (1930) The gall wasp genusCynips: a study in the origin of species. Indiana Univ Stud 16 (84–86) p 577

    Google Scholar 

  • Larew HG (1982) A comparative anatomical study of galls caused by the major cecidogenetic groups, with special emphasis on the nutritive tissue. Ph D dissertation Oregon State University

  • McCracken I, Egbert D (1922) California gall-making Cynipidae. Stanford Univ Publs Biol Sci 3(1)

  • Marigo G, Gadal P (1973) Comparative study of the plenolic content in the genusQuercus and its Zoocecidia. Eur J Pathol 3:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemela P, Aro AM, Haukioja E (1979) Birch leaves as a resource for herbivores: Damage-induced increase in leaf phenols with trypsin-inhibiting effects. Rep Kevo Subarctic Res Stu 15: 37–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Nierenstein M (1930) Interrelation between gall producer and galls. Nature 125:348–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn JF, Dunham AE (1983) On hypothesis testing in ecology and evolution. Am Nat 122:602–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand AS (1967) Predator prey interactions and the evolution of aspect diversity. Atlas do Simpósio sôbre a Biota Amazonica 5:73–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades DF (1983a) Herbivore population dynamics and plant chemistry. In: Denno RE, McClure MS (eds) Variable plants and herbivores in natural and managed systems. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades DF (1983b) Response of alder and willow to attack by tent caterpillars and webworms evidence for phenomonal sensitivity of willows. In: Hedin P (ed) Mechanisms of plant resistance to insects. ACS Symp Ser 208:55–68

  • Ricklefs RE, O'Rourke K (1975) Aspect diversity in moths: A temperate-tropical comparison. Evolution 29:313–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal SS (1968) Biology and host relations of some Cynipidae forming galls on Quercus. PhD dissertation University of California Berkeley

  • Rosenthal SS, Koehler CS (1971) Heterogony in some gall-forming Cynipidae Hymenoptera with notes on the Biology ofNeuroterus saltatorius. Ann Entomol Soc Am 64:565–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Russo RA (1979) Plant galls of the California region. The Boxwood Pines, Pacific Grove, Ca

    Google Scholar 

  • Russo RA (1983) Galls: surreal ornaments on blue oaks. Fremontia 11:19–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz JC, Baldwin IT (1982) Oak leaf quality declines in response to defoliation by gypsy moth larvae. Science 217:149–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorthouse JD (1973) The insect community associated with rose galls ofDiplolepis polita (Hymenoptera Cynipidae). Quaest Entomol 9:55–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorthouse JD (1975) The roles of insect inhabitants in sixDiplolepis (Cynipidae, Hymenoptera) rose leaf galls of Western Canada. PhD Thesis, University of Saskatchewan

  • Taper ML, Case TJ (1986a) Interactions between oak tannins and parasite community structure: unexpected benefits of tannins to cynipid gall wasps (In preparation)

  • Taper ML, Case TJ (1986b) Inter and intraspecific aggregation of cynipid gall-wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) using the California coast live OakQuercus agrifolia (In preparation)

  • Washburn JO, Cornell HV (1979) Chalcid parasitoid attack on a gall wasp populations (Acraspis hirta (Hymesoptera: Cynipidae)) onQuercus prinus (Fagaceae). Can Entomol 111:391–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Washburn JO, Cornell HV (1981) Parasitoids, patches, and phenology their possible role in the local extinction of a cynipid gall wasp population. Ecology 62:1597–1607

    Google Scholar 

  • Weld LH (1957) Cynipid galls of the Pacific slope. Privately printed. Ann Arbor

  • Whitham TG (1978) Habitat selection byPemphigus aphids in response to resource limitation and competition. Ecology 59:1164–1176

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitham TG (1979) Territorial behavior ofPemphigus gall aphids. Nature 279:324–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitham TG (1980) The theory of habitat selection: examined and extended usingPemphigus aphids. Am Nat 115:449–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AH (1963) Enzyme inhibition by phenolic compounds. In: Pridham JB (ed) Enzyme chemistry of phenolic compounds. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Mark L. Taper

    Present address: , 48 Ayon Rd., 94707, Kensington, CA, USA

  2. Eric M. Zimmerman

    Present address: School of Public Health, U.C.L.A., 90024, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, U.C.S.D., 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Mark L. Taper, Eric M. Zimmerman & Ted J. Case

Authors
  1. Mark L. Taper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eric M. Zimmerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ted J. Case
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taper, M.L., Zimmerman, E.M. & Case, T.J. Sources of mortality for a cynipid gall-wasp (Dryocosmus dubiosus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)): The importance of the Tannin/Fungus interaction. Oecologia 68, 437–445 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01036752

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01036752

Keywords

Search

Navigation