UDTR — Radar mondial des droits de la Nature

Impact of light intensity on sugar maple leaf physical traits and consequences for caterpillar preference and performance

Identification

Clé publique

radar:r-3829e1da7209e8ab6cbc9d2ae4ffc8e4

Auteurs

Hakimara, Mahsa · Despland, Emma

Année déclarée

2025

Langue déclarée

und

Type source

Software

Première détection

2026-11-13T08:57:22.425020+00:00

Dernière observation des métadonnées

2026-11-13T08:57:22.425020+00:00

Dernière vérification HTTP

Non effectuée

Institutions déclarées par la source

Concordia University

Résumé documentaire — langue originale

This study investigates the impact of light intensity on the physical defenses of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) saplings and how these defenses affect interactions with insect herbivores. Conducted at the Kenauk Nature Reserve in Quebec, the study involved 12 sites representing both shaded and sunlit environments. Leaf traits, including thickness, specific leaf area (SLA), water content, and toughness, were measured from 216 leaves collected in 2021 and 40 in 2022. To explore herbivore interactions, two Erebid caterpillars including the invasive spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) and the native white-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma) were used in controlled bioassays that assessed caterpillar feeding preference and performance. The results revealed that sunlit leaves were significantly thicker and had lower SLA compared to shaded leaves across both years. While water content was lower in sunlit leaves in 2021, it showed no significant difference in 2022. Leaf toughness, measured only in 2022, did not significantly differ between sunlit and shaded leaves. Caterpillar feeding preference tests indicated that white-marked tussock moth caterpillars consumed more sunlit leaves, showing a significant preference for them. However, spongy moth caterpillars did not exhibit a significant preference. In terms of performance, white-marked tussock moth caterpillars had a higher survival rate and larger pupal mass on sunlit saplings in 2021, but no significant differences were observed in laboratory feeding initiation assays with first-instar caterpillars in 2022. These findings suggest that a tree's investment in sun leaves to maximise photosynthesis is not necessarily followed by increased defense against herbivory. This research contributes to our understanding of how environmental factors like light can shape plant defense strategies and impact insect herbivore dynamics in temperate forests.

Identifiants

DOI

10.5281/zenodo.13800771

Repères documentaires

Famille documentaire

unknown

Types déclarés par les sources

Software

Éditeurs

Zenodo

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Sources

DataCite · Document 1

• Document · https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13800771

Statut documentaire

Pertinence à examiner

Bibliothèque

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