Inducible anti-herbivore defences of the annual sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) against a specialist sunflower beetle (Zygogramma Exclamationis)

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dc.contributor.authorKwok, Kevin
dc.contributor.supervisorLaird, Robert A.
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-03T20:12:15Z
dc.date.available2014-10-03T20:12:15Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-03
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.description.abstractThis thesis aims to determine the effects of sunflower plant defences on the specialist sunflower beetle and whether sunflower beetles modify their behaviour in response to plant defences as a form of herbivore offence. Chapter 1 begins with a general introduction, reviewing previous literature on inducible plant defences and herbivore offence. Chapter 2 investigates plant defence induction in sunflowers, initiated by sunflower beetle larvae feeding and mechanical damage. No evidence of plant defence induction was found. Chapter 3 investigates the possibility of herbivore offence in sunflower beetles, specifically: selective oviposition on undamaged sunflowers, avoidance of damaged leaves and plants, and gregarious feeding. No evidence of selective oviposition, or avoidance of damaged leaves or plants was found. Evidence of gregarious feeding was found as larval survivorship increased with increasing larval densities. Chapter 4 summarizes the results of Chapters 2 and 3, and proposes future lines of research based on these findings.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipACA Grants in Biodiversity (supported by the Alberta Conservation Association), Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the University of Lethbridgeen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3503
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.proquest.subject0329en_US
dc.proquest.subject0427
dc.proquest.subject0479
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Arts & Sciences.
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectherbivore offence
dc.subjectplant defences
dc.subjectselective oviposition
dc.subjectsunflower
dc.subjectsunflower beetle
dc.titleInducible anti-herbivore defences of the annual sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) against a specialist sunflower beetle (Zygogramma Exclamationis)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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