| Abstract Detail
Ecology Kakumanu, Siya [1], Cardenas, Santiago D [2], Bergen, Anna T [1], King, Robert J [1], Clement, Wendy [3]. Comparing patterns of herbivory across native and invasive regions of four species of Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) using herbarium specimens. Honeysuckles, Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae), are a clade of approximately 150 species largely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Honeysuckles have long been planted as garden ornamentals, well known for their fragrance and showy flowers. However, over 20 species of Lonicera are considered invasive and are a threat to native biodiversity in many regions of the world. Studying invasive species can offer insight into factors that allow introduced species to become invasive, such as escaping native herbivores as suggested by the enemy release hypothesis. Recent uses of herbarium specimens to study herbivory provide a new opportunity to study invasive species over an extended period of time and a greater geographic area1. This study examined herbivory among four invasive Lonicera species in the eastern United States: L. japonica, L. maackii, L. tatarica, and L. xylosteum. Specifically, we compared levels of herbivory in native versus invasive ranges, as well as across species within their invasive range while considering plant life history traits to better understand patterns of herbivory. To accomplish this, we accessed digitized herbarium specimens from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). In total, 75 specimens were selected and scored for each of the native and invasive ranges of a species (150 specimens total) for each of the four focal taxa. To account for bias in herbivory levels over time, sampled herbarium specimens were restricted to the past 70 years. Specimens were selected to span native ranges of each species including China, Japan, and Russia, while the invasive range for all species sampled was restricted to 19 states in the eastern United States. Specimens were examined for the presence of four types of herbivory: margin feeding, interior feeding, piercing, and mining. Using GIMP, a 4x4 cm grid was overlaid on each digitized herbarium specimen and herbivory was scored only in squares that were a quarter covered by leaves1. Probabilities of herbivory per specimen were calculated for each herbarium sheet and used to compare levels of herbivory of native and invasive ranges, as well as patterns of herbivory across the four invasive species within the eastern US. Preliminary findings demonstrate L. tatarica has experienced greater levels of herbivory in its native range as compared to its invasive range. As we analyze all of the focal taxa, we have the opportunity to discuss the potential role of herbivory in the success of a set of closely related invasive species with different life history strategies. Finally, recent digitization of herbarium specimens allowed access to a wealth of historical records from across the globe spanning over a century, demonstrating the power of herbarium specimens to study long-standing questions in invasive species biology. 1. Meineke et al. 2018
1 - The College of New Jersey, Department of Biology, 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing, New Jersey, 08618, United States
2 - The College of New Jersey, Department of Biology, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, New Jersey, 08628, United States
3 - The College of New Jersey, Department of Biology, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA
Keywords:
invasive species
honeysuckles
herbarium specimen
herbivory
Lonicera.
Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PEC030
Abstract ID:772
Candidate for Awards:None |
