Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves

The ecological niche of aphids is largely defined by the phloem sap of plants, which they consume. Previous studies revealed that aphids may change the phloem sap metabolome and that a previous aphid infestation may benefit them. As aphids reproduce parthenogenetically, the performance and preference of aphids of the same monoclonal aphid lineage can be compared between previously uninfested and previously aphid‐infested plants.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves were infested by clonal lineages ofSitobion avenaeaphids for 9–10 days. Leaf phloem exudates were analysed using amino acid profiling and metabolic fingerprinting, capturing mainly specialised metabolites. It was investigated whether aphid colony sizes differ between leaves that were previously uninfested or infested by aphids of a different clonal lineage or by aphids of the same clonal lineage and whether aphids show a preference for any of these leaves.

The relative concentrations of metabolites in the phloem exudates were not affected by aphid infestation. Aphid colonies were partly larger on previously aphid‐infested leaves than on control leaves. However, this effect was transient and finally colonies had similar sizes. Given a choice between previously aphid‐infested and uninfested leaves,S. avenaenymphs showed no preferences.

The findings that positive effects of previous aphid infestation on aphid performance are transient and that the performance but not the preference of the aphids was affected by previous aphid infestation highlight the temporal dynamics and complexity of aphid–plant interactions. Niche alteration processes may be partly involved in these interactions.

Stichworte

amino acids; aphids; niche choice; niche construction; phloem; specialised metabolites

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Zeitschriftentitel

Ecological Entomology

Band

Ausgabe

Seite(n)

476-488

Urheberrecht / Lizenzen

Creative Commons Namensnennung 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0)

ISSN

0307-6946

eISSN

1365-2311

Finanzierungs-Informationen

Open-Access-Publikationskosten wurden durch die Universität Bielefeld im Rahmen des DEAL-Vertrags gefördert.

Page URI

https://pub.uni-bielefeld.de/record/2986975

Zitieren

Bühler A, Schweiger R. Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves. Ecological Entomology. 2024;49(4):476-488.

Bühler, A., & Schweiger, R. (2024). Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves. Ecological Entomology, 49(4), 476-488. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13316

Bühler, Andreas, and Schweiger, Rabea. 2024. “Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves”. Ecological Entomology 49 (4): 476-488.

Bühler, A., and Schweiger, R. (2024). Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves. Ecological Entomology 49, 476-488.

Bühler, A., & Schweiger, R., 2024. Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves. Ecological Entomology, 49(4), p 476-488.

A. Bühler and R. Schweiger, “Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves”, Ecological Entomology, vol. 49, 2024, pp. 476-488.

Bühler, A., Schweiger, R.: Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves. Ecological Entomology. 49, 476-488 (2024).

Bühler, Andreas, and Schweiger, Rabea. “Previous infestation by conspecifics leads to a transient increase of the performance of aphids on wheat leaves”. Ecological Entomology 49.4 (2024): 476-488.

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