1 Castells E, Berhow MA, Vaughn SF, Berenbaum MR (2005) Geographical variation in 2 alkaloid production in Conium maculatum populations experiencing differential herbivory 3 by Agonopterix alstroemeriana. Journal of Chemical Ecology 31(8): 1693-1709 4 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-005-5921-x 5 6 7 GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN ALKALOID PRODUCTION IN Conium maculatum 8 POPULATIONS EXPERIENCING DIFFERENTIAL HERBIVORY BY Agonopterix 9 alstroemeriana 10 11 12 EVA CASTELLS1*, MARK A. BERHOW2, STEVEN F. VAUGHN2, and MAY R. 13 BERENBAUM1 14 15 1Department of Entomology, 320 Morrill Hall, University of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin Ave., 16 Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA 17 2USDA, ARS, NCAUR, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61601, USA 18 19 *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email:
[email protected] 20 1 Castells et al. (2005) Journal of Chemical Ecology 31: 1693-1709 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-005-5921-x 1 Abstract-Conium maculatum, a Eurasian weed naturalized in North America, contains 2 high concentrations of piperidine alkaloids, which act as chemical defenses against 3 herbivores. In the United States, C. maculatum was largely free from herbivory until 4 approximately 30 years ago, when it was re-associated via accidental introduction with a 5 monophagous European herbivore, the oecophorid caterpillar Agonopterix alstroemeriana. 6 At present, A. alstroemeriana is found in a continuum of re-association time and intensities 7 with C. maculatum across the continent; in the Pacific Northwest, A. alstroemeriana can 8 cause severe damage, resulting in some cases in complete defoliation. Studies in biological 9 control and invasion biology have yet to determine whether plants re-associated with a 10 significant herbivore from the area of indigeneity increase their chemical defense 11 investment in areas of introduction.