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ECOLOGICAL SPECIATION IN A MULTI-TROPHIC COMPLEX: GALL MIDGES, GOLDENRODS, AND PARASITOIDS

Wells, Brenda L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1290387561

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
The importance of ecological interactions in the origin and maintenance of species diversity remains unclear. The current study assesses how ecological interactions shape the process of evolutionary diversification using a gall midge-host plant system in Ohio involving the gall midge, Asteromyia carbonifera (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and its goldenrod (Solidago) host-plants. A. carbonifera form four morphologically distinctive gall morphs and differ genetically. I studied phenology, host-plant specialization, and parasitism at three field sites in Southwestern Ohio. Phenology was assessed for twelve weeks while host-plant distribution and pressure from parasitoids were measured by monthly plot and rearing gall collections. Relative gall frequencies and eclosions were used to evaluate if temporal barriers exist (phenology) while host plant distributions were evaluated to observe if spatial barriers were present. Parasitism differences among morphs were also measured. Although phenology and host-plant preference were not significant, parasitism results revealed significantly distinctive patterns of parasitism among gall morphs.
John Stireman, PhD (Advisor)
Don Cipollini, PhD (Committee Member)
Thomas Rooney, PhD (Committee Member)
163 p.
Ecology; Entomology
Ecology; Entomology

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Citations

  • Wells, B. L. (2010). ECOLOGICAL SPECIATION IN A MULTI-TROPHIC COMPLEX: GALL MIDGES, GOLDENRODS, AND PARASITOIDS [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1290387561

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wells, Brenda. ECOLOGICAL SPECIATION IN A MULTI-TROPHIC COMPLEX: GALL MIDGES, GOLDENRODS, AND PARASITOIDS. 2010. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1290387561.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wells, Brenda. "ECOLOGICAL SPECIATION IN A MULTI-TROPHIC COMPLEX: GALL MIDGES, GOLDENRODS, AND PARASITOIDS." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1290387561

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.