INVESTIGADORES
ZAVALA Jorge Alberto
artículos
Título:
Perception of solar UV-B radiation by phytophagous insects: behavioral responses and ecosystem implications.
Autor/es:
MAZZA, C.; ZAVALA, J.A.; SCOPEL, A.; BALLARÉ,C.
Revista:
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Referencias:
Año: 1999 vol. 96 p. 980 - 985
ISSN:
0027-8424
Resumen:
ABSTRACT Most of our present knowledge about the
impacts of solar UVB radiation on terrestrial ecosystems
comes from studies with plants. Recently, the effects of UVB
on the growth and survival of consumer species have begun to
receive attention, but very little is known about UVB impacts
on animal behavior. Here we report that manipulations of the
flux of solar UVB received by field-grown soybean crops had
large and consistent effects on the density of the thrips
(Caliothrips phaseoli, Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations
that invaded the canopies, as well as on the amount of leaf
damage caused by the insects. Solar UVB strongly reduced
thrips herbivory. Thrips not only preferred leaves from plants
that were not exposed to solar UVB over leaves from UVBexposed
plants in laboratory and field choice experiments, but
they also appeared to directly sense and avoid exposure to
solar UVB. Additional choice experiments showed that soybean
leaf consumption by the late-season soybean wormCaliothrips phaseoli, Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations
that invaded the canopies, as well as on the amount of leaf
damage caused by the insects. Solar UVB strongly reduced
thrips herbivory. Thrips not only preferred leaves from plants
that were not exposed to solar UVB over leaves from UVBexposed
plants in laboratory and field choice experiments, but
they also appeared to directly sense and avoid exposure to
solar UVB. Additional choice experiments showed that soybean
leaf consumption by the late-season soybean worm
Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was much less
intense in leaves with even slight symptoms of an early thrips
attack than in undamaged leaves. These experiments suggest
that phytophagous insects can present direct and indirect
behavioral responses to solar UVB. The indirect responses are
mediated by changes in the plant host that are induced by UVB
and, possibly, by other insects whose behavior is affected by
UVB.(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was much less
intense in leaves with even slight symptoms of an early thrips
attack than in undamaged leaves. These experiments suggest
that phytophagous insects can present direct and indirect
behavioral responses to solar UVB. The indirect responses are
mediated by changes in the plant host that are induced by UVB
and, possibly, by other insects whose behavior is affected by
UVB.