A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The decline and current distribution of Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus) in Finland; the role of Cd
Authors: Fred MS, Brommer JE
Publisher: FINNISH ZOOLOGICAL BOTANICAL PUBLISHING BOARD
Publication year: 2005
Journal:: Annales Zoologici Fennici
Journal name in source: ANNALES ZOOLOGICI FENNICI
Journal acronym: ANN ZOOL FENN
Volume: 42
Issue: 1
First page : 69
Last page: 79
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0003-455X
Abstract
We tested two hypotheses that assume aspects of host-plant quality restrict the current distribution of Parnassius apollo. The "foreign host-plant hypothesis" states that host plants from outside the current range of P. apollo are, for some reason, unsuitable for the developing larvae. The "heavy-metal hypothesis" specifically attributes this unsuitability to a higher concentration of heavy metals (especially Cd) outside the current species' range than inside. We fed 60 larvae from two populations with host plants from their place of origin (control) or from an area outside the current distribution of the species (treatment). Treatment plants had lower Cd levels, which allowed us to separate between the two hypotheses. Larvae in the treatment group experienced positive effects on fitness-related traits such as weight at pupation, length of the last instar and food consumption. Hence, Cd appears to have a negative effect on developing P. apollo larvae and may therefore restrict the recolonisation of current populations into their former range. However, larvae from one population tolerated a concentration of Cd equally high as what was previously shown to be lethal. Such tolerance undermines the generality of attributing the decline and restrictions of R apollo populations to high Cd concentrations.
We tested two hypotheses that assume aspects of host-plant quality restrict the current distribution of Parnassius apollo. The "foreign host-plant hypothesis" states that host plants from outside the current range of P. apollo are, for some reason, unsuitable for the developing larvae. The "heavy-metal hypothesis" specifically attributes this unsuitability to a higher concentration of heavy metals (especially Cd) outside the current species' range than inside. We fed 60 larvae from two populations with host plants from their place of origin (control) or from an area outside the current distribution of the species (treatment). Treatment plants had lower Cd levels, which allowed us to separate between the two hypotheses. Larvae in the treatment group experienced positive effects on fitness-related traits such as weight at pupation, length of the last instar and food consumption. Hence, Cd appears to have a negative effect on developing P. apollo larvae and may therefore restrict the recolonisation of current populations into their former range. However, larvae from one population tolerated a concentration of Cd equally high as what was previously shown to be lethal. Such tolerance undermines the generality of attributing the decline and restrictions of R apollo populations to high Cd concentrations.
UTU Research Portal