Population cycles of autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata, in relation to birch mast seeding

Oecologia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidar Selås ◽  
Olav Hogstad ◽  
Göran Andersson ◽  
Ted von Proschwitz
Keyword(s):  
Population Cycles ◽  
Mast Seeding ◽  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Autumnal Moth

Population Cycles of the Autumnal Moth in Fennoscandia

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Tanhuanpää ◽  
Kai Ruohomäki
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Density Fluctuations ◽  
Mountain Birch ◽  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Autumnal Moth ◽  
Main Host ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Most species of insect herbivores are restricted to low densities, but some display large-scale density fluctuations, including periodic outbreaks (Faeth 1987, Mason 1987, Hanski 1990, Hunter 1995). The tendency to reach high densities has been related to certain life history traits (Hunter 1991, 1995, Tammaru and Haukioja 1996). However, all populations of a given outbreaking species do not necessarily display high densities. In those cases, outbreaks are frequently more pronounced in populations in physically severe and marginal habitats (Wallner 1987, Myers and Rothman 1995). The autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is an example of a species with both outbreaking and nonoutbreaking populations. In mountain birch [Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii (Orlova) Hämet-Ahti] forests of northern and mountainous Fennoscandia (hereafter northern populations), E. autumnata displays fluctuations with a statistically significant periodicity of 9-10 years (Tenow 1972, Haukioja et al. 1988, Bylund 1995). During outbreaks, forests may be totally defoliated and trees may even die over large areas (Tenow 1972, Lehtonen and Heikkinen 1995). In more southern parts of the species' Holarctic distribution (hereafter southern populations), outbreaks are absent and populations remain at low densities. Cycles of northern E. autumnata populations vary in their amplitude (Tenow 1972). Outbreak densities that produce conspicuous defoliation are typically reached in only some areas, and often in different areas during successive peaks (Tenow and Bylund 1989). Empirical data indicate a fairly regular pattern of fluctuations, that is synchronous on a regional scale, also in populations with moderate or low peak densities (Bylund 1997). Thus, there are two main questions regarding population regulation of northern and mountainous E. autumnata—what causes the cycles, and what causes spatial variations in outbreak severity? In southern populations, the main question is what prevents outbreaks? Larvae of E. autumnata hatch early in spring at the time of birch bud break. Birches (Betula spp.) are the main host plants, although larvae are able to feed on many deciduous trees and shrubs (Seppänen 1970).

Performance of the cyclic autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata, in relation to birch mast seeding

Oecologia ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tero Klemola ◽  
Sinikka Hanhimäki ◽  
Kai Ruohomäki ◽  
Josef Senn ◽  
Miia Tanhuanpää ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mast Seeding ◽  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Autumnal Moth

scholarly journals Identification and Evaluation of 21 Novel Microsatellite Markers from the Autumnal Moth (Epirrita autumnata) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 22541-22554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siv Aarnes ◽  
Ida Fløystad ◽  
Julia Schregel ◽  
Ole Vindstad ◽  
Jane Jepsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Autumnal Moth

scholarly journals Deep sympatric mtDNA divergence in the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata)

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjersti S. Kvie ◽  
Silje Hogner ◽  
Leif Aarvik ◽  
Jan T. Lifjeld ◽  
Arild Johnsen
Keyword(s):  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Autumnal Moth

Genetic background affects genetically modified ethylene sensing in birch–insect interaction

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
pp. 988-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira Alatalo ◽  
Sanna Haviola ◽  
Irma Saloniemi
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Background ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
Epirrita Autumnata ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Autumnal Moth ◽  
Long Shoots ◽  
New Type ◽  
Ethylene Insensitivity

Several studies suggest that ethylene is involved in the responses and resistance of plants against herbivores and pathogens, but the role of ethylene seems to vary depending on the system studied. Here we extend the studies of introduced Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. ethylene receptor gene (etr1-1) to a new type of interaction: a woody plant, Betula pendula Roth (silver birch) and its herbivore, Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen) (autumnal moth). We studied constitutive insect resistance of two wild-type birch genotypes, V and J, which were very different hosts for E. autumnata. On the J background, genetically modified ethylene insensitivity decreased the performance of E. autumnata, measured as leaf damage, larval mass, or pupal mass. However, hardly any changes were detectable in the V background, which is an inferior wild-type genotype for autumnal moth performance, except increased leaf damage caused by E. autumnata in ethylene-insensitive trees. Ethylene insensitivity caused clear side effects on birch phenology and morphology, especially in the J background. In this background, ethylene modification mainly acted via accelerating phenology, but this was hardly detectable in the V genotype. Also, the number of long shoots increased only in the modified J background. Taken together, it seems that the effects of ethylene on several birch traits relevant for E. autumnata and birch morphology depend on the birch genetic background.

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