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Testing the efficiency of three 15N-labeled nitrogen compounds for indirect labeling of grasshoppers via plants in the field.
- Source :
-
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata . Sep2005, Vol. 116 Issue 3, p219-226. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- In field studies of plant–insect herbivore interactions it is often difficult to establish which herbivore has fed on a particular plant. We investigated the suitability of three different 15N-labeled nitrogen compounds (ammonium, nitrate, and glycine) for indirect marking of three grasshopper species [ Omocestus viridulus (L.), Chorthippus parallelus (Zett.), and Chorthippus biguttulus (L.) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)] through labeling their food plants in the field. In two short-term experiments grassland plots of 1 m2 were separately labeled with either one of the different nitrogen compounds. Grasshoppers were caged on three food-plant species [ Dactylis glomerata L., Holcus lanatus L. (Poaceae), and Trifolium repens L. (Fabaceae)] present in these plots for 72 h. Significantly enriched δ15N values in grasshoppers were found in all plant/grasshopper combinations. Enrichment in grasshoppers was positively correlated with the enrichment of plants and labeling with nitrate resulted in highest 15N enrichment. In a long-term experiment, individuals of C. biguttulus were placed in a cage covering an area of 1 m2 for 37 days, with sampling of grasshoppers at regular intervals. δ15N values of the grasshopper and a common food plant, D. glomerata, increased steadily over time, up to 40-fold by the end of the experiment. Our results demonstrate that 15N-labeling of plants is an appropriate tool for the investigation of insect–plant interactions under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00138703
- Volume :
- 116
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17909530
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2005.00327.x