Publication Details |
Category | Text Publication |
Reference Category | Conference papers |
Title (Primary) | Body size and host range in herbivorous beetles on different geographical scales |
Title (Secondary) | Jahrestagung 1997, Müncheberg, [vom 2. bis 7. September 1997] |
Author | Frenzel, M.; Brandl, R. |
Publisher | Pfadenhauer, J.; Kappen, L. |
Journal | Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie |
Year | 1998 |
Department | BZF |
Volume | 28 |
Page From | 201 |
Page To | 205 |
Language | englisch |
Abstract | The positive relation between body size and host range in phytophages may be explained by at least three hypotheses: (1) Widely distributed phytophagous species may use more hosts than phytophages with a narrow geographic range (geographic hypothesis). The distributional range of an animal is positively correlated with body size. Hence, host range should increase with body size. (2) Size-dependent energetic constraints may affect the host range: while relative energy use decreases with body size, energy requirement per unit area increases with decreasing body size, thus favouring specialization in small species. (3) The relation between host range and body size may be due to sampling artifacts. We tested these hypotheses in phytophagous beetles feeding on Cardueae and Brassicaceae. In a regional study on Cardueae we obtained a marginally significant positive correlation of body size with host range which is best explained by the geographic hypothesis. In a local study dealing with Brassicaceae, the raw data showed a marginally significant negative correlation which can be explained by sampling artifacts. Correcting the relationship in Brassicaceae for the sampling effort, the correlation becomes positive. However, there is no simple linear relationship, but a triangular pattern. |
Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=8634 |
Frenzel, M., Brandl, R. (1998): Body size and host range in herbivorous beetles on different geographical scales In: Pfadenhauer, J., Kappen, L. (eds.) Jahrestagung 1997, Müncheberg, [vom 2. bis 7. September 1997] Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie 28 Fischer, Stuttgart, p. 201 - 205 |