Project Detail

Effect of Insect Herbivore Guild Interactions on Population Dynamics of Plants

Name:	Effect of Insect Herbivore Guild Interactions on Population Dynamics of Plants
Researchers:	Abela-Hofbauerová Inés H. (member in research team)
Provider:	GAUK
Number:	GAUK 206/08/H049
Realization from:	2008
Realization to:	2011
Summary:	An unresolved, long-standing debate of fundamental importance to the success and efficiency of weed biological control is whether a single “most effective” type of insect herbivore or a set of insects in “complementary” feeding guilds is more likely to limit invasive plant density. These two strategies for biocontrol are based on conflicting conceptual models of the factors structuring phytophagous insect communities and their effects on plant individuals and populations. The aim of this project is to explore these two alternatives by quantifying existing patterns of occurrence and impacts of insect herbivores on Cirsium arvense by experimentally testing for direct and indirect effects of non-overlapping insect herbivore guilds on plant performance and population density and build integral projection model describing the population dynamics of the species to model the demographic consequences of these data. This research will contribute to development of safe, effective weed management that will limit the invasiveness of weedy and exotic plants.