Titelangaben
Bogner, Franz X.:
Interspecific advantage results in intraspecific disadvantage: Chemical protection versus cannibalism inUtetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae).
In: Journal of Chemical Ecology.
Bd. 22
(1996)
Heft 8
.
- S. 1439-1451.
ISSN 1573-1561
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02027723
Abstract
This study suggests that alkaloid deficiency in Utetheisa (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) is a main cause of cannibalism; moreover, cannibalism can be predicted on the basis of alkaloid deficiency and of systemic alkaloid accumulation. This chemical plays a central role in the life of this species, because, first, it provides acquired chemical protection from potential predators, and, second, it determines mating success (as the alkaloid is an essential precursor of the male pheromone). Consequently, losers in the larval sequestering of alkaloids, which would result in a lack of chemical protection and in decreased mating success, tend to target conspecific winners, which are normally substantially protected against a variety of predators; by cannibalizing those accumulated alkaloid sources the losers tend to become the winners of cannibalistic encounters while making up their shortfall of these chemicals. What is a presumptive advantage in selection under high predation pressures and/or high alkaloid availabilities could become a disadvantage under high conspecific population densities and shortages of alkaloid supplies for larval uptake. Cannibalism may be expected to have general ecological importance in the evolutionary play of Utetheisa and may contribute to a balanced regulation of the acquired alkaloid contents in these arctiid populations. Key Words: Larval cannibalism, pyrrolizidine alkaloid, chemical protection, population density, Utetheisa ornatrix.
Weitere Angaben
Publikationsform: | Artikel in einer Zeitschrift |
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Begutachteter Beitrag: | Ja |
Zusätzliche Informationen: | BAYCEER24527 |
Institutionen der Universität: | Fakultäten > Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften > Fachgruppe Biologie > Lehrstuhl Didaktik der Biologie Fakultäten > Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften > Fachgruppe Biologie > Ehemalige Professoren > Lehrstuhl Didaktik der Biologie - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz Xaver Bogner Fakultäten Fakultäten > Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften Fakultäten > Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften > Fachgruppe Biologie Fakultäten > Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften > Fachgruppe Biologie > Ehemalige Professoren |
Titel an der UBT entstanden: | Ja |
Themengebiete aus DDC: | 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik |
Eingestellt am: | 31 Aug 2015 05:51 |
Letzte Änderung: | 31 Aug 2015 05:51 |
URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/18990 |