Cotesia are parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) that are used for biological control of pest moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Pyralidae) that damage agricultural crops. This dissertation investigated courtship acoustics and mating, and their relevance to biological control, in members of the Cotesia flavipes species complex, and a noncomplex member, Cotesia marginiventris. The first study investigated whether courtship acoustics were species specific for two members of the Cotesia flavipes complex, C. flavipes and C. sesamiae, and for C. marginiventris. During courtship, male Cotesia fan their wings and produce low amplitude sounds and substrate vibrations. The airborne and substrate components of courtship were similar within a species. However, the courtship acoustics of each species was distinct. The duration and frequency of several courtship acoustic components distinguished each species, while some components did not differ among species. The second study investigated mating success and transmission of courtship vibrations on natural and artificial rearing substrates for Cotesia marginiventris. Mating success was measured on plastic, glass, corn and bean leaves, and chiffon fabric. Mating success was lowest on plastic and glass, intermediate on corn and bean leaves, and highest on chiffon. Substrate influenced transmission of courtship vibrations. Durations of courtship vibrations were longer on corn, bean and chiffon than on plastic. Frequency modulation occurred on corn, bean and chiffon, and amplitude was greatest on chiffon. The mating success of normal and dealated males was higher on chiffon than on glass, suggesting that courtship communication relied in part on substrate vibrations. The third study examined female and male mate choice in a solitary and a gregarious species, C. marginiventris and C. flavipes, respectively. Females of the solitary species, C. marginiventris, mated more frequently with large than small males, and this did not appear to be the result of male competition. Male choice for female size was not apparent in C. marginiventris. Females of the gregarious parasitoid, C. flavipes, mated with large or small males with similar frequencies, and male-male competition was not observed. In the male choice experiment, C. flavipes males attempted copulation and mated more with smaller females, and smaller females accepted males more than large females.

Parasitoid wasps are an important group of organisms in need of systematic revision. This dissertation examines the cosmopolitan parasitoid wasp genus Cremnops. It is a compilation of three projects and significantly advances the taxonomic foundation of the genus. The New World species of the genus Cremnops are revised. Thirty-three species of Cremnops are treated; five are described as new, i.e., C. bertae sp. nov., C. cluttsis sp. nov., C. nymphius sp. nov., C. wileycoyotius sp. nov. and C. witkopegasus sp. nov. Six species are synonymized, i.e., Cremnops caribensis Berta 1998, is synonymized under C. guanicanus Wolcott 1924; C. nigrosternum (Morrison 1917) is synonymized under C. haematodes (Brullé 1846); C. punctatus Berta 1998, is synonymized under C. marshi Berta 1998; C. sharkei Berta 1998, is synonymized under C. montrealensis (Morrison 1917); C. turrialbae Berta de Fernandez 1998, is synonymized under C. ferrugineus (Cameron 1887); and C. misionensis Berta 1987, is synonymized under C. slossonae (Morrison 1917). Cremnops florissanticola is transferred to its original combination Bracon florissanticola Cockerell 1919, st. rev. The species concept Cremnops desertor and its complicated taxonomic history are discussed. A phylogenetic distance tree, based on COI data, is used to help delimit species. The recognition of C. alterans Enderlein and C. malayensis Bhat is proposed. I propose new combinations for five African species that are currently placed in Cremnops, i.e., C. atripennis Szépligeti 1914 and C. elegantissima Szépligeti 1908 are moved to Disophrys; C. borealis (Szépligeti 1914) and C. rubrigaster Masi 1944 are moved to Biroia; and C. pulchripennis Szépligeti 1905 is moved to and renamed Biroia neopulchipennis. These changes result in Disophrys atripennis (Szépligeti 1915) becoming a junior homonym, which is changed to Disophrys szatripennis. Additionally, two species are proposed as nomen dubia: C. rufitarsis Szépligeti 1913 and C. schubotzi Szépligeti 1915. Included are a molecular phylogeny, a dichotomous key, links to distribution maps, an electronic interactive key, images of holotypes, and suggestions for further research.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2004--Kiel.

Parasitoids represent a diverse and little studied group of insects, employing variety of adaptations to utilize and kill their hosts. Among the unresolved issues related to the host-parasitoids interactions are responses of such interactions to global climate change, especially in cases specialized insect species adapted to cold environments such as alpine habitats. Example of such hosts are the Holarctic butterflies of the genus Erebia Dalman, 1986 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) inhabiting mountains of Central Europe. The aim of this study was sampling caterpillars of lowland and mountain Satyrinae butterflies, rearing the caterpillars to determine the degree of infestation and determine the host specificity of parasitoids using combination of classical and molecular methods. I sampled 39 caterpillars of the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), seven caterpillars of the Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron) and four caterpillars of the Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale) at 14 habitats along the altitudinal gradient in Krkonoše Mountains. It was found more than a one-third parasitization by Ichneumon caloscelis among Maniola jurtina caterpillars and no parasitoids among the mountain species. It suggests the possibility of a higher rate of infestation among species living at lower altitudes than at higher altitudes. There are many factors affecting the parasitization's rate among butterflies. This issue requires further monitoring. This study demonstrates the time-consuming sampling of solitary living caterpillars on common plants. Molecular determination of parasitoids using DNA barcoding is possible without major problems, but with certain restrictions.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:53:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 peres_fsc_me_jabo.pdf: 331825 bytes, checksum: 18b3c8bc6500ae52044825067eb8d2af (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foi avaliada a atratividade de Tagetes patula (cravo-de-defunto) sobre tripes (Thysanoptera) e micro-hymenoptera em cultivo protegido de melão. Foram estudadas a abundância, dominância, freqüência e constância de espécies de insetos utilizando-se a análise faunística, análise de agrupamento (AA) e análise de componentes principais (ACP). Nas extremidades das estufas com cultivo de melão foram plantadas duas faixas transversais de cravo-de-defunto. As amostras foram tomadas nas plantas de melão, batendo-se três ponteiros e nas plantas de T. patula 1m2 sobre bandeja branca. Os pontos de amostragem consistiram em: T. patula, melão consorciado com T. patula e melão à distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m de T. patula. Onze espécies de tripes e 21 espécies de himenópteros parasitóides foram observados. As espécies dominantes de tripes e superdominantes e constantes de himenópteros foram analisadas para avaliar a distribuição na estufa. Os resultados permitiram verificar que houve três grupos diferentes em relação a abundância de espécies de tripes: (1) T. patula, (2) melão consorciado com T. patula e (3) melão a distancia de 6m, 12m, 18m e 24m do cravo-de-defunto. Também foi possível observar que as espécies de tripes foram mais abundantes em T. patula e que a bordadura com essa planta apresenta maior população de himenópteros parasitóides. Com isso, bordaduras de T. patula podem ser utilizadas para implementar o controle biológico bem como para servir de cultura atrativa. / The attractiveness of Tagetes patula (marigold) on thrips (Thysanoptera) and parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) was ingestigated in protected melon crop. Insect abundance, dominance, frequency, and constancy were evaluated using faunistic analysis, cluster and principal component analyses. Transversal strips of T. patula were grow at both ends of the protected melon greenhouse. Samplings were taken by shaking three melon vine tips and all T. patula plants from 1 m2 on white trays. Samplings sites were T. patula, melon along with T. patula and melon plants at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. Eleven thrips species and 21 parasitic wasps were observed. The dominant species of thrips as well as superdominant and dominant and constant species of parasitic wasps were analysed to evaluated species distribution on the crop. The results showed that there were three different groups according to thrips species abundance: (1) T. patula, (2) melon along with T. patula, and (3) melon alone at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from T. patula. It was also possible to note that thrips species were more attracted to T. patula, and that the border presented a higler population of parasitic wasps. Thus, T. patula border can be used to improve biological control as well as serve as trap crop.

A capacidade de dispersão e parasitismo de D. longicaudata, proveniente de larvas de Ceratitis capitata (linhagem Ceratitis) e de Anastrepha fraterculus (linhagem Anastrepha) foi avaliada após liberação em pomar de goiaba. Onze liberações de cerca de 3.000 parasitoides foram realizadas entre março de 2014 e abril de 2015 no centro de um talhão de 15 ha de goiaba localizado no Projeto de Irrigação do Jaíba (15°14\'03.7\"S 43°56\'54.0\"W), em Jaíba, MG, Brasil. A dispersão foi monitorada, a partir de um ponto central de liberação, nas direções cardeais e colaterais, a uma distância de 6 m até 272 m, distantes 12 m entre si nas direções cardeais e 17 m nas colaterais. Em cada ponto uma \"unidade de parasitismo\", ou seja, um sache com cerca de 20 larvas de terceiro instar do hospedeiro mais dieta envoltos em tecido voile, foi pendurada. Larvas de C. capitata e de A. fraterculus foram oferecidas para recuperar os parasitoides em cinco liberações onde os parasitoides não tiveram escolha pelo hospedeiro e outras seis onde tiveram escolha. As \"unidades de parasitismo\" permaneceram 24 h no pomar quando foram substituídas por novas, também retiradas após 24h. Após sete e 15 dias novas \"unidades de parasitismo\" foram distribuídas e mantidas por 24 h. Foram verificadas a porcentagem de parasitismo, razão sexual, mortalidade das larvas hospedeiras e a direção de dispersão. Os dados foram analisados utilizando modelos lineares generalizados de efeito misto através do sistema estatístico R. A distância média de dispersão (DM) e a área de dispersão (S²) de D. longicaudata foram determinadas utilizando-se o modelo proposto por Dobzhansky e Wright. O total de 10.351 parasitoides foi recuperado, todos pertencentes à espécie D. longicaudata, 769 provenientes do hospedeiro A. fraterculus e 9.582 de C. capitata. A mortalidade das larvas foi maior para o hospedeiro A. fraterculus. A razão sexual foi preferencialmente (ou tendeu) para machos e diferiu apenas entre os hospedeiros, sendo maior em parasitoides recuperados de A. fraterculus (0,34), independente da linhagem liberada. Nenhuma variável climática analisada influenciou o parasitismo ou a mortalidade das larvas. A linhagem Ceratitis foi a que mais se dispersou e parasitou larvas até a distância máxima de 173 m e atingiu uma área de dispersão de até 34.067,17m². As duas linhagens do parasitoide se dispersaram em todas as direções, mas demonstraram uma tendência a se dispersar para a direção leste. As duas linhagens foram capazes de sobreviver e parasitar larvas de A. fraterculus e C. capitata por até 15 dias após sua liberação, mas, número maior de exemplares da linhagem Anastrepha foi recuperado após 15 dias parasitando larvas dos dois hospedeiros. A linhagem Anastrepha proporcionou os mais altos índices de parasitismo nas maiores distâncias do ponto de liberação e a linhagem Ceratitis em pontos mais próximos. Com base na maior capacidade de sobrevivência em condição de semiárido, maior capacidade de parasitismo em distâncias maiores do ponto de liberação e na área de dispersão média obtida (27.368,24 m²) recomenda-se a liberação de 3.000 parasitoides da linhagem Anastrepha a cada 2,7 ha de goiaba / The ability of dispersal and parasitism of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata reared with the larval host of Ceratitis capitata (Ceratitis strain) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Anastrepha strain) was evaluated in a guava orchard. Eleven releases of approximately 3,000 parasitoids were conducted between March 2014 and April 2015 at the center of a 15-ha guava orchard located in the Jaíba Irrigation Project area (15°14?03.7?S, 43°56?54.0?W) in Jaíba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dispersal of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata was monitored within a distance of 6 m to 272 m from a central point of release to the cardinal and collateral directions; each cardinal and collateral direction point was located at a distance of 12 m and 17 m from each other, respectively. At each point, a \"parasitism unit\", that comprised a sachet made of voile fabric containing 20 third instar larval host more diet was hung. Larvae of C. capitata and A. fraterculus were offered to recover the parasitoids into five releases where the parasitoids had no choice by the host and six where they had choice. The \"parasitism units\" remained for 24 hours in the orchard when they were replaced with new ones, also remained for 24 hours. After 7 and 15 days others \"parasitism units\" were distributed and maintained for 24 h. Observations on parasitism, sex ratio, mortality of host larvae, and the direction of dispersal were made for each time point. Data were analyzed using the general linear models and mixed effect models by the R statistical system. The average distance dispersion (DM) and the dispersion area (S²) of D. longicaudata were determined using the model proposed by Dobzhansky and Wright. A total of 10,351 parasitoids was recovered, all belonging to D. longicaudata, 769 from the host A. fraterculus and 9,582 from C. capitata. Larval mortality was higher in A. fraterculus. The sex ratio showed a tendency for males and differed between the hosts; the number of males was higher in the parasitoids recovered from A. fraterculus (0.34), regardless of the strain of D. longicaudata released. Parasitism or larval mortality was not influenced by any of the climatic variables analyzed. The Ceratitis strain was most dispersed and parasitized larvae up to a maximum distance of 173 m and scattering area of up to 34,067.17 m². Both parasitoid strains scattered in all directions, but showed a tendency to disperse toward the east. The two strains were able to survive and parasitize the larvae of A. fraterculus and C. capitata for up to 15 days after its release, but more number of the Anastrepha strain were recovered after 15 days of parasitizing the larvae of the two hosts. The Anastrepha strain showed the highest parasitism rate over larger distances from the point of release, while the Ceratitis strain parasitized the larval hosts close to the release points. Based on the highest survival in semiarid conditions, the higher parasitism capacity at greater distances from the point of release, and the average obtained dispersion area (27,368.24 m²), we recommend the release of 3,000 parasitoids of Anastrepha strain in every 2.7 ha of guava orchards

A capacidade de dispersão e parasitismo de D. longicaudata, proveniente de larvas de Ceratitis capitata (linhagem Ceratitis) e de Anastrepha fraterculus (linhagem Anastrepha) foi avaliada após liberação em pomar de goiaba. Onze liberações de cerca de 3.000 parasitoides foram realizadas entre março de 2014 e abril de 2015 no centro de um talhão de 15 ha de goiaba localizado no Projeto de Irrigação do Jaíba (15°14\'03.7\"S 43°56\'54.0\"W), em Jaíba, MG, Brasil. A dispersão foi monitorada, a partir de um ponto central de liberação, nas direções cardeais e colaterais, a uma distância de 6 m até 272 m, distantes 12 m entre si nas direções cardeais e 17 m nas colaterais. Em cada ponto uma \"unidade de parasitismo\", ou seja, um sache com cerca de 20 larvas de terceiro instar do hospedeiro mais dieta envoltos em tecido voile, foi pendurada. Larvas de C. capitata e de A. fraterculus foram oferecidas para recuperar os parasitoides em cinco liberações onde os parasitoides não tiveram escolha pelo hospedeiro e outras seis onde tiveram escolha. As \"unidades de parasitismo\" permaneceram 24 h no pomar quando foram substituídas por novas, também retiradas após 24h. Após sete e 15 dias novas \"unidades de parasitismo\" foram distribuídas e mantidas por 24 h. Foram verificadas a porcentagem de parasitismo, razão sexual, mortalidade das larvas hospedeiras e a direção de dispersão. Os dados foram analisados utilizando modelos lineares generalizados de efeito misto através do sistema estatístico R. A distância média de dispersão (DM) e a área de dispersão (S²) de D. longicaudata foram determinadas utilizando-se o modelo proposto por Dobzhansky e Wright. O total de 10.351 parasitoides foi recuperado, todos pertencentes à espécie D. longicaudata, 769 provenientes do hospedeiro A. fraterculus e 9.582 de C. capitata. A mortalidade das larvas foi maior para o hospedeiro A. fraterculus. A razão sexual foi preferencialmente (ou tendeu) para machos e diferiu apenas entre os hospedeiros, sendo maior em parasitoides recuperados de A. fraterculus (0,34), independente da linhagem liberada. Nenhuma variável climática analisada influenciou o parasitismo ou a mortalidade das larvas. A linhagem Ceratitis foi a que mais se dispersou e parasitou larvas até a distância máxima de 173 m e atingiu uma área de dispersão de até 34.067,17m². As duas linhagens do parasitoide se dispersaram em todas as direções, mas demonstraram uma tendência a se dispersar para a direção leste. As duas linhagens foram capazes de sobreviver e parasitar larvas de A. fraterculus e C. capitata por até 15 dias após sua liberação, mas, número maior de exemplares da linhagem Anastrepha foi recuperado após 15 dias parasitando larvas dos dois hospedeiros. A linhagem Anastrepha proporcionou os mais altos índices de parasitismo nas maiores distâncias do ponto de liberação e a linhagem Ceratitis em pontos mais próximos. Com base na maior capacidade de sobrevivência em condição de semiárido, maior capacidade de parasitismo em distâncias maiores do ponto de liberação e na área de dispersão média obtida (27.368,24 m²) recomenda-se a liberação de 3.000 parasitoides da linhagem Anastrepha a cada 2,7 ha de goiaba / The ability of dispersal and parasitism of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata reared with the larval host of Ceratitis capitata (Ceratitis strain) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Anastrepha strain) was evaluated in a guava orchard. Eleven releases of approximately 3,000 parasitoids were conducted between March 2014 and April 2015 at the center of a 15-ha guava orchard located in the Jaíba Irrigation Project area (15°14?03.7?S, 43°56?54.0?W) in Jaíba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dispersal of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata was monitored within a distance of 6 m to 272 m from a central point of release to the cardinal and collateral directions; each cardinal and collateral direction point was located at a distance of 12 m and 17 m from each other, respectively. At each point, a \"parasitism unit\", that comprised a sachet made of voile fabric containing 20 third instar larval host more diet was hung. Larvae of C. capitata and A. fraterculus were offered to recover the parasitoids into five releases where the parasitoids had no choice by the host and six where they had choice. The \"parasitism units\" remained for 24 hours in the orchard when they were replaced with new ones, also remained for 24 hours. After 7 and 15 days others \"parasitism units\" were distributed and maintained for 24 h. Observations on parasitism, sex ratio, mortality of host larvae, and the direction of dispersal were made for each time point. Data were analyzed using the general linear models and mixed effect models by the R statistical system. The average distance dispersion (DM) and the dispersion area (S²) of D. longicaudata were determined using the model proposed by Dobzhansky and Wright. A total of 10,351 parasitoids was recovered, all belonging to D. longicaudata, 769 from the host A. fraterculus and 9,582 from C. capitata. Larval mortality was higher in A. fraterculus. The sex ratio showed a tendency for males and differed between the hosts; the number of males was higher in the parasitoids recovered from A. fraterculus (0.34), regardless of the strain of D. longicaudata released. Parasitism or larval mortality was not influenced by any of the climatic variables analyzed. The Ceratitis strain was most dispersed and parasitized larvae up to a maximum distance of 173 m and scattering area of up to 34,067.17 m². Both parasitoid strains scattered in all directions, but showed a tendency to disperse toward the east. The two strains were able to survive and parasitize the larvae of A. fraterculus and C. capitata for up to 15 days after its release, but more number of the Anastrepha strain were recovered after 15 days of parasitizing the larvae of the two hosts. The Anastrepha strain showed the highest parasitism rate over larger distances from the point of release, while the Ceratitis strain parasitized the larval hosts close to the release points. Based on the highest survival in semiarid conditions, the higher parasitism capacity at greater distances from the point of release, and the average obtained dispersion area (27,368.24 m²), we recommend the release of 3,000 parasitoids of Anastrepha strain in every 2.7 ha of guava orchards

The right timing of phenological events is crucial for species fitness. Species should be highly synchronized with mutualists, but desynchronized with antagonists. With climate warming phenological events advance in many species. However, often species do not respond uniformly to warming temperatures. Species-specific responses to climate warming can lead to asynchrony or even temporal mismatch of interacting species. A temporal mismatch between mutualists, which benefit from each other, can have negative consequences for both interaction partners. For host-parasitoid interactions temporal asynchrony can benefit the host species, if it can temporally escape its parasitoid, with negative consequences for the parasitoid species, but benefit the parasitoid species if it increases synchrony with its host, which can negatively affect the host species. Knowledge about the drivers of phenology and the species-specific responses to these drivers are important to predict future effects of climate change on trophic interactions. In this dissertation I investigated how different drivers act on early flowering phenology and how climate warming affects the tritrophic relationship of two spring bees (Osmia cornuta & Osmia bicornis), an early spring plant (Pulsatilla vulgaris), which is one of the major food plants of the spring bees, and three main parasitoids of the spring bees (Cacoxenus indagator, Anthrax anthrax, Monodontomerus). In Chapter II I present a study in which I investigated how different drivers and their change over the season affect the reproductive success of an early spring plant. For that I recorded on eight calcareous grasslands around Würzburg, Germany the intra-seasonal changes in pollinator availability, number of co-flowering plants and weather conditions and studied how they affect flower visitation rates, floral longevity and seed set of the early spring plant P. vulgaris. I show that bee abundances and the number of hours, which allowed pollinator foraging, were low at the beginning of the season, but increased over time. However, flower visitation rates and estimated total number of bee visits were higher on early flowers of P. vulgaris than later flowers. Flower visitation rates were also positively related to seed set. Over time and with increasing competition for pollinators by increasing numbers of co-flowering plants flower visitation rates decreased. My data shows that a major driver for early flowering dates seems to be low interspecific competition for pollinators, but not low pollinator abundances and unfavourable weather conditions. Chapter III presents a study in which I investigated the effects of temperature on solitary bee emergence and on the flowering of their food plant and of co-flowering plants in the field. Therefore I placed bee cocoons of two spring bees (O. cornuta & O. bicornis) on eleven calcareous grasslands which differed in mean site temperature. On seven of these grasslands the early spring plant P. vulgaris occurred. I show that warmer temperatures advanced mean emergence in O. cornuta males. However, O. bicornis males and females of both species did not shift their emergence. Compared to the bees P. vulgaris advanced its flowering phenology more strongly with warmer temperatures. Co-flowering plants did not shift flowering onset. I suggest that with climate warming the first flowers of P. vulgaris face an increased risk of pollinator limitation whereas for bees a shift in floral resources may occur. In Chapter IV I present a study in which I investigated the effects of climate warming on host-parasitoid relationships. I studied how temperature and photoperiod affect emergence phenology in two spring bees (O. cornuta & O. bicornis) and three of their main parasitoids (C. indagator, A. anthrax, Monodontomerus). In a climate chamber experiment with a crossed design I exposed cocoons within nest cavities and cocoons outside of nest cavities to two different temperature regimes (long-term mean of Würzburg, Germany and long-term mean of Würzburg + 4 °C) and three photoperiods (Würzburg vs. Snåsa, Norway vs. constant darkness) and recorded the time of bee and parasitoid emergence. I show that warmer temperatures advanced emergence in all studied species, but bees advanced less strongly than parasitoids. Consequently, the time period between female bee emergence and parasitoid emergence decreased in the warm temperature treatment compared to the cold one. Photoperiod influenced the time of emergence only in cocoons outside of nest cavities (except O. bicornis male emergence). The data also shows that the effect of photoperiod compared to the effect of temperature on emergence phenology was much weaker. I suggest that with climate warming the synchrony of emergence phenologies of bees and their parasitoids will amplify. Therefore, parasitism rates in solitary bees might increase which can negatively affect reproductive success and population size. In this dissertation I show that for early flowering spring plants low interspecific competition for pollinators with co-flowering plants is a major driver of flowering phenology, whereas other drivers, like low pollinator abundances and unfavourable weather conditions are only of minor importance. With climate warming the strength of different drivers, which act on the timing of phenological events, can change, like temperature. I show that warmer temperatures advance early spring plant flowering more strongly than bee emergence and flowering phenology of later co-flowering plants. Furthermore, I show that warmer temperatures advance parasitoid emergence more strongly than bee emergence. Whereas temperature changes can lead to non-uniform temporal shifts, I demonstrate that geographic range shifts and with that altered photoperiods will not change emergence phenology in bees and their parasitoids. In the tritrophic system I investigated in this dissertation climate warming may negatively affect the reproductive success of the early spring plant and the spring bees but not of the parasitoids, which may even benefit from warming temperatures. / Der richtige Zeitpunkt von phänologischen Ereignissen ist maßgeblich für das Überleben und die Fortpflanzung einer Art. Arten sollten eine möglichst hohe Synchronisation mit Mutualisten aufweisen, aber eine möglichst geringe mit Antagonisten. Die Klimaerwärmung führt dazu, dass sich bei vielen Arten phänologische Ereignisse verfrühen. Allerdings reagieren Arten unterschiedlich auf wärmere Temperaturen. Artspezifische Reaktionen auf die Klimaerwärmung können zu Asynchronität oder sogar zu zeitlicher Diskrepanz bei interagierenden Arten führen. Eine zeitliche Diskrepanz zwischen Mutualisten, die voneinander profitieren, kann sich negativ auf beide Interaktionspartner auswirken. Bei Wirt-Parasitoid Beziehungen kann der Wirt von einer zeitlichen Diskrepanz profitieren, wenn er seinem Parasitoid zeitlich entfliehen kann, was wiederum negative Folgen für den Parasitoid haben kann. Jedoch kann der Parasitoid profitieren, wenn er die Synchronisation mit seinem Wirt erhöhen kann, was wiederum den Wirt negativ beeinflussen kann. Das Wissen über die Treiber von phänologischen Ereignissen und die artspezifischen Reaktionen auf diese Treiber sind von Bedeutung um die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf trophische Beziehungen vorherzusagen. In meiner Doktorarbeit habe ich untersucht, wie verschiedene Treiber mit einer frühen Blüte zusammenhängen und wie der Klimawandel die tritrophische Beziehung von zwei Frühlingsbienen (Osmia cornuta & Osmia bicornis), einer Frühlingspflanzenart (Pulsatilla vulgaris), die eine der wichtigen Futterpflanzen der Bienen ist, und der drei Hauptparasitoiden der Frühlingsbienen (Cacoxenus indagator, Anthrax anthrax, Monodontomerus) beeinflusst. In Kapitel II präsentiere ich eine Studie, in der ich den Einfluss verschiedener Treiber und ihre saisonale Veränderung auf den Fortpflanzungserfolg einer Frühlingspflanzenart untersucht habe. Dazu habe ich auf acht Kalkmagerrasen bei Würzburg (Deutschland) die innersaisonalen Veränderungen der Bestäuberverfügbarkeit, der Anzahl an gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzenarten und die Wetterbedingungen aufgezeichnet. Des Weiteren habe ich erforscht wie diese Faktoren die Blütenbesuchsrate, die Blütenlanglebigkeit und den Samenansatz der Frühlingspflanze P. vulgaris beeinflussen. Ich konnte zeigen, dass die Anzahl an Bienen und die Anzahl an Stunden, die ein Furagieren von Bestäubern ermöglicht hätten, am Anfang der Saison niedrig waren und mit der Zeit zunahmen. Jedoch war die Blütenbesuchsrate und die geschätzte Anzahl an Bienenbesuchen höher bei frühen als bei späten P. vulgaris Blüten. Die Blütenbesuchsrate wirkte sich auch positiv auf den Samenansatz aus. Die Blütenbesuchsrate nahm mit der Zeit und mit zunehmender Konkurrenz um Bestäuber durch eine zunehmende Anzahl an gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzenarten ab. Meine Daten zeigen, dass ein Hauptreiber von frühen Blühzeitpunkten die geringe zwischenartliche Konkurrenz um Bestäuber ist, aber nicht die niedrige Bestäuberanzahl und ungünstige Wetterbedingungen. Kapitel III präsentiert eine Studie, in welcher ich die Auswirkungen der Temperatur auf den Schlupf von Solitärbienen und die Blüte ihrer Futterpflanzen und gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzen im Freiland untersucht habe. Dafür habe ich Bienenkokons von zwei Frühlingsbienen (O. cornuta & O. bicornis) auf elf Kalkmagerrasen, die sich in der mittleren Flächentemperatur unterschieden, platziert. Auf sieben dieser Kalkmagerrasen kam die Frühlingspflanzenart P. vulgaris vor. Ich konnte zeigen, dass wärmere Temperaturen den mittleren Schlupf von O. cornuta Männchen verfrühen. Die Männchen von O. bicornis und die Weibchen beider Arten haben ihren Schlupfzeitpunkt jedoch nicht verschoben. Im Vergleich zu den Bienen verfrühte P. vulgaris seine Blühphänologie bei warmen Temperaturen stärker. Die gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzenarten verschoben ihren Blühbeginn nicht. Die Daten zeigen, dass wärmere Temperaturen den Bienenschlupf weniger stark verfrühen als die Blüte ihrer Futterpflanze. Das lässt darauf schließen, dass mit dem Klimawandel die ersten Blüten von P. vulgaris ein erhöhtes Risiko haben nicht bestäubt zu werden, während die Bienen möglicherweise auf andere Blühressourcen ausweichen müssen. Kapitel IV beschreibt eine Studie, in welcher ich die Auswirkungen der Klimaerwärmung auf Wirt-Parasitoid Beziehungen untersucht habe. Dabei habe ich die Auswirkungen von Temperatur und Photoperiode auf die Schlupfphänologie zweier Frühlingsbienen (O. cornuta & O. bicornis) und drei ihrer Hauptparasitoide (C. indagator, A. anthrax, Monodontomerus) erforscht. In einem Klimakammerexperiment mit gekreuztem Design habe ich Kokons in Nesthöhlen und Kokons außerhalb von Nesthöhlen, zwei verschiedenen Temperaturregimen (Langzeitmittel von Würzburg, Deutschland und Langzeitmittel von Würzburg + 4 °C) und drei Photoperioden (Würzburg, Deutschland contra Snåsa, Norwegen contra Dauerdunkel) ausgesetzt und die Zeitpunkte des Bienen- und Parasitoidenschlupfes aufgezeichnet. Ich konnte zeigen, dass warme Temperaturen in allen untersuchten Arten den Schlupfzeitpunkt verfrühten, jedoch bei den Bienen weniger stark als bei den Parasitoiden. Eine Folge daraus ist, dass sich die Zeitspanne zwischen dem Schlupf der Bienenweibchen und dem Schlupf der Parasitoide im warmen Temperaturregime im Vergleich zum kalten verkürzte. Die Photoperiode hatte auf den Zeitpunkt des Schlupfes nur in Kokons außerhalb von Nisthöhlen einen Effekt (außer beim Schlupf von O. bicornis Männchen). Die Daten zeigen auch, dass der Effekt der Photoperiode auf die Schlupfphänologie im Vergleich zu dem Effekt der Temperatur viel schwächer war. Daraus schließe ich, dass sich im Zuge der Klimaerwärmung die Synchronisation der Schlupfphänologien von Bienen und ihren Parasitoiden verstärken wird. Eine Folge davon könnten erhöhte Parasitierungsraten bei Solitärbienen sein, welche den Reproduktionserfolg und die Populationsgröße negativ beeinflussen können. In dieser Doktorarbeit habe ich gezeigt, dass einer der Haupttreiber einer frühen Blüte bei Frühlingspflanzen geringe zwischenartliche Konkurrenz um Bestäuber mit später gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzenarten ist, während andere Treiber, wie geringe Bestäuberabundanzen und ungünstige Wetterbedingungen nur von geringer Bedeutung sind. Im Zuge des Klimawandels könnte sich die Stärke verschiedener Treiber, die den Zeitpunkt von phänologischen Ereignissen beeinflussen, verändern. Ich konnte außerdem zeigen, dass wärmere Temperaturen die Blüte von frühen Frühlingspflanzen stärker verfrühen, als den Schlupf von Bienen und die Blüte von später gleichzeitig blühenden Pflanzenarten. Des Weiteren zeigte ich, dass wärmere Temperaturen den Schlupf von Parasitoiden stärker verfrühen als den Schlupf der Bienen. Ich konnte zeigen, dass während Temperaturveränderungen zu verschieden starken zeitlichen Verschiebungen führen können, Verschiebungen von geografischen Verbreitungsgebieten und damit geänderten Photoperioden die Schlupfphänologie von Bienen und ihren Parasitoiden wahrscheinlich nicht ändern werden. In dem tritrophischen System, das ich in dieser Doktorarbeit untersucht habe, könnte die Erwärmung des Klimas den Fortpflanzungserfolg der frühen Frühlingspflanze und der Frühlingsbienen negativ beeinflussen, aber wahrscheinlich nicht die der Parasitoide, die vielleicht sogar davon profitieren können.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第24243号 / 農博第2522号 / 新制||農||1094(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R4||N5414(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 松浦 健二, 教授 大門 高明, 教授 日本 典秀 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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