Date of Award
Spring 2018
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Meghann Jarchow
Second Advisor
Dr. Robert Bagchi
Third Advisor
Dr. Leone Brown
Keywords
Invasive species, fragmentation, Lymantria dispar, gypsy moth
Abstract
Lymantria dispar(Gypsy moths) are an invasive species inNorth America thatdevastate forestsbycausingmass defoliation. WhileL. disparpopulations persist eachyearin an expanding range, defoliation eventsare most extremeduring outbreak years.Two non-native pathogensare known to help controlL. disparpopulationsin NorthAmerica:the fungusEntomophaga maimaiga,and virusLymantria disparnucleopolyhedrovirus(LdNPV).Both pathogens and their hostL. disparare found intheheavily fragmented forests ofeasternConnecticut, wherethis study was conducted.Because forestfragmentsof different sizes vary in microclimate and other attributes,controlofL. disparby these pathogens may also vary.For instance, as a fungus,Entomophagamay be more likely to spread in larger forest fragmentsthathave highermoisture and vegetation density than smaller fragments.LdNVP spreads at a higher ratewith increased populationdensity,butthe relationship betweenL. disparpopulationdensity and forest fragment size is not documented.I reareda sample of fifteenindividuals ofL. disparfromeach ofthirty-two forest fragmentsandfoundthat mortalityfrombothEntomophagaandLdNPVis higherin large forest fragmentsthansmallfragments(Χ2= 12.64,df= 1,p< 0.0004). Thissuggests thatforestconditions that varywith fragment size may influence pathogen spreadandinhibit control ofL.disparbythese pathogens.
Recommended Citation
Romero, Jessica, "Fragmentation Inhibits Pathogen Control of Outbreak Insect Lymantria Dispar" (2018). Honors Thesis. 27.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/27