Seeing the trees for the leaves - oaks as mosaics for a host-specific moth

: Roslin T, Gripenberg S, Salminen JP, Karonen M, O'Hara RB, Pihlaja K, Pulkkinen P

Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

: 2006

Oikos

: OIKOS

: 113

: 1

: 106

: 120

: 15

: 0030-1299

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2006.14460.x

In conclusion, the large variation observed in the performance of a specialist moth and in the physical traits of the leaves among different parts of single tree crowns refutes the image of an oak tree as an 'island' of internally homogeneous quality. Hence, we may expect little evolutionary adaptation of T. ekebladella at the scale of individual trees. The moths may instead evolve to behaviourally select their resource at a very fine scale. Large variation within trees also calls for extensive replication within trees in ecological sampling designs and/or the sampling of maximally similar leaves.