Research Training ProgramSmithsonian
Institution
|
|
| Matthew B. Palmer Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Conrad C. Labandeira, Ph.D. "I enjoyed being around the scientists here, sincere in their interests and relentless in their work. The museum contains some unbelievable insects and other specimens." |
  |
|
|
Insect herbivory on an Eocene flora from Republic, Washington: An evaluation of intensity and type
ABSTRACT
In order to devise intelligent strategies for conserving our threatened terrestrial ecosystems, it is important to understand the processes that gave rise to the current biological diversity therein. It is thought that plants and insects, the two most dominant groups in these ecosystems, induced each other's radiation through evolutionary time by mutual interactions such as pollination and host/defense dynamics. However, few studies have sought to rigorously document this hypothesis by studying the fossil record. The focus of this study is on insect herbivory and its impact on a fossil flora from the Eocene. Fossil leaves were examined for evidence of insect feeding, the various types of feeding were identified, and the intensity of herbivory was quantified. Strategies of feeding were found to span the range of modern feeding types, namely external feeding, skeletonizing, leaf mining and galling. The intensity of herbivory was comparable to that of another Eocene flora from Green River, Utah and a Permian flora from Texas. Thus, in this Eocene upland forest, herbivory was significant, with all the modern feeding categories well established. Studies on other fossil floras representing similar environments but differing time periods are required in order to gain more insight into how types and intensity of insect herbivory have changed through time. This will furnish a more complete understanding of the role herbivory plays in the ongoing drama of insect - plant coevolution.
This research was supported by a geology grant from the National Science Foundation, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Grant # EAR-9732416.