Willow Hybridization Differentially Affects Preference and Performance Of
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 83: 285±294, 1997. 285 c 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in Belgium. Willow hybridization differentially affects preference and performance of herbivorous beetles ; Colin M. Orians1; , Cynthia H. Huang1, Alexander Wild1, Katherine A. Dorfman1 , Pamela Zee2,MinhTamT.Dao2 & Robert S. Fritz2 1Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, USA; 2Department of Biology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA; Present address: Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Mt Holyoke College, Department of Geology and Geography, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA Accepted: February 6, 1997 Key words: Salix, hybridization, phenolic glycosides, herbivore preference, herbivore performance Abstract We examined the preferences and performances of ®ve beetle species (four chrysomelids and one scarab) on two species of willows (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) and their interspeci®c hybrids. Beetle species differed markedly in their responses. In preference assays, two chrysomelid beetle species (Calligrapha multipunctata bigsbyana and Plagiodera versicolora) preferred hybrids, two chrysomelids (Chrysomela scripta and Ch. Knabi) preferred hybrids and S. sericea, and the scarab beetle (Popillia japonica) preferred S. eriocephala. Experiments with puri®ed salicortin indicated that salicortin concentration may contribute to these preferences. The relative performance (growth rate, pupal/adult weight and survivorship) of these beetles on the three willow taxa did not correspond with their feeding preferences. Three species exhibited intermediate performance on hybrid willows (the two Chrysomela spp. and P.japonica); the Chrysomela spp. performed best on S. sericea, while P.japonica performed best on S. eriocephala. One species performed equally well on all three taxa (C. multipunctata bigsbyana). The performance of Pl.
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