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journal article Jul 12, 2014

Trophic cascades in bell miner‐associated dieback forests: Quantifying relationships between leaf quality, psyllids and Psyllaephagus parasitoids

Martin J. Steinbauer Katherine M. J. Sinai Annette Anderson Gary S. Taylor ORCID Bryony M. Horton
Austral Ecology Vol. 40 No. 1 pp. 77-89 · Wiley
View at Publisher Save 10.1111/aec.12170
Abstract
AbstractCoteries of the meliphagid bird Manorina melanophrys are associated with a form of eucalypt defoliation and recovery called bell miner‐associated dieback (BMAD). Through their defence of cooperative colony boundaries against other insectivorous birds, bell miners may foster greater abundances of lerp‐forming psyllids (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), some of which reduce the lifespan of leaves. Trophic cascades in BMAD forests need to be understood to have a complete picture of regulatory processes. We studied relationships between leaf quality, psyllid and Psyllaephagus parasitoid/hyperparasitoid abundances within the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Area, NSW, Australia; our focal tree species were Eucalyptus propinqua and E. biturbinata. Eucalyptus biturbinata had tougher leaves than E. propinqua; leaf toughness of both species varied with site and tree. We found a statistically significant, negative relationship between toughness (surrogate for leaf age) and foliar nitrogen content; younger leaves had higher nitrogen contents. Both bell miner abundance and foliar nitrogen were positively correlated with psyllid abundance. The abundance of Glycaspis species (the psyllid that produces lerps with the highest sugar content) was more closely correlated with foliar nitrogen content than was the abundance of all five psyllid genera combined. We identified 14 Psyllaephagus spp./morphospecies, comprising 11 primary parasitoids and three hyperparasitoids. The abundance of all Psyllaephagus combined was positively correlated with the abundance of lerps. However, psyllid parasitism was not correlated with the abundance of lerps. The abundance of the three hyperparasitoids was positively correlated with the abundance of Psyllaephagus hosts. The availability of epicormic foliage (young, morphologically juvenile leaves produced following defoliation) is likely to alter the nutritional ecology underpinning the diversity and abundance of psyllid populations. Higher quality epicormic foliage should favour populations of Glycaspis species (by enhancing nymphal survival) creating lerp hotspots that induce residency by opportunistic bell miners. The positive contribution of induced amelioration, interacting with feedbacks from parasitoids and hyperparasitoids, to BMAD requires longitudinal investigation.
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Showing 50 of 52 references

Metrics
21
Citations
52
References
Details
Published
Jul 12, 2014
Vol/Issue
40(1)
Pages
77-89
License
View
Authors
M
Martin J. Steinbauer

Department of Zoology La Trobe University Melbourne Vic. 3086 Australia

K
Katherine M. J. Sinai

Department of Zoology La Trobe University Melbourne Vic. 3086 Australia

A
Annette Anderson

Cesar Pty Ltd Parkville Victoria Australia

G
Gary S. Taylor

Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity School of Earth & Environmental Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia

B
Bryony M. Horton

Office of Environment & Heritage National Parks & Wildlife Service Coffs Harbour New South Wales Australia

Funding
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Government Award: A0000007972G
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Australian Government Award: A0000007972G
Cite This Article
Martin J. Steinbauer, Katherine M. J. Sinai, Annette Anderson, et al. (2014). Trophic cascades in bell miner‐associated dieback forests: Quantifying relationships between leaf quality, psyllids and Psyllaephagus parasitoids. Austral Ecology, 40(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12170
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