Nitrogen homeostasis in a willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora, is independent of host plant quality

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Kagata, Hideki Ohgushi, Takayuki
Copyright Year	2006
Abstract	While foliar nitrogen (N) content of host plants depends on environmental conditions, N content of herbivorous insects may remain relatively constant due to homeostasis. However, it is unknown to what extent insects can maintain their body elemental composition against natural variation in host plant quality. The present study examined the performance and N content of a willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), when fed leaves of host willow, Salix eriocarpa Franchet et Savatier (Salicaceae), with varying nutritional status. Wa ter content, toughness, and N content of willow leaves varied seasonally, and they affected performance of the leaf beetle. The leaf beetle achieved high performance when fed young leaves. On the other hand, the N content of the leaf beetle changed little, and it was independent of that of willow leaves, indicating strong N homeostasis of the leaf beetle. We discussed the function of N homeostasis in herbivorous insects in tritrophic level interactions.
Starting Page	105
Ending Page	110
Page Count	6
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1111/j.1570-7458.2006.00377.x
Volume Number	118
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~ohgushi/en/publications/PDF/Ohgushi122.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2006.00377.x
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article