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Related Experiment Videos

Do multitrophic interactions override N fertilization effects on Operophtera larvae?

Joachim Strengbom1, Johanna Witzell, Annika Nordin

  • 1Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Joachim.Strengbom@eg.umu.se

Oecologia
|January 19, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Nitrogen fertilization did not directly impact winter moth (Operophtera brumata) densities. However, increased bird predation in fertilized areas suggests top-down control is key for regulating moth populations in boreal forests.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Forestry
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Investigating the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization on boreal forest understorey vegetation.
  • Understanding the population dynamics of Operophtera brumata (winter moth) larvae.
  • Exploring indirect interactions, including plant pathogens and predation, affecting insect populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization on winter moth larval performance and density.
  • To assess the roles of plant pathogen (Valdensia heterodoxa) infection and bird predation in mediating N fertilization effects.
  • To differentiate between bottom-up (fertilization) and top-down (predation) regulatory mechanisms on winter moth populations.

Main Methods:

  • A 7-year field experiment monitoring winter moth densities on Vaccinium myrtillus.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Laboratory feeding experiments assessing larval performance based on altered food plant quality.
  • A field bird exclusion experiment to evaluate the impact of predation on larval densities.

    • Main Results:

    • Nitrogen fertilization positively affected winter moth larval survival and adult weight at the individual level.
    • Plant pathogen infection did not influence larval performance, despite altering food plant quality.
    • Bird exclusion experiments revealed stronger larval damage in fertilized plots, indicating higher bird predation and thus masking direct N effects on density.

    Conclusions:

    • Top-down effects, specifically bird predation, are more critical than bottom-up effects (N fertilization) for regulating winter moth populations.
    • Increased bird predation in fertilized boreal forest plots can obscure the direct impact of nitrogen on winter moth densities.
    • Bird predation plays a significant role in the population regulation of Operophtera brumata in boreal forest ecosystems.