Population structure of a large blue butterfly and its specialist parasitoid in a fragmented landscape.

Colonization rates and distances of a host butterfly and two specific parasitoids in a fragmented landscape

1. We describe the pattern of colonization of suitable, but currently empty, habitat by a host butterfly and two specialist parasitoids living in a highly fragmented landscape. 2. Using survey data collected over 8 years, field sampling and small-scale experiments we show that the ability of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) to colonize new habitat is intermediate between tha...

Spatial and temporal genetic structure at the fourth trophic level in a fragmented landscape.

A fragmented habitat becomes increasingly fragmented for species at higher trophic levels, such as parasitoids. To persist, these species are expected to possess life-history traits, such as high dispersal, that facilitate their ability to use resources that become scarce in fragmented landscapes. If a specialized parasitoid disperses widely to take advantage of a sparse host, then the parasito...

Strong dispersal in a parasitoid wasp overwhelms habitat fragmentation and host population dynamics.

The population dynamics of a parasite depend on species traits, host dynamics and the environment. Those dynamics are reflected in the genetic structure of the population. Habitat fragmentation has a greater impact on parasites than on their hosts because resource distribution is increasingly fragmented for species at higher trophic levels. This could lead to either more or less genetic structu...

Trophic interactions and population structure of the large blue Maculinea nausithous and its specialist parasitoid

Distribution and colonisation ability of three parasitoids and their herbivorous host in a fragmented landscape

Habitat fragmentation can disrupt communities of interacting species even if only some of the species are directly affected by fragmentation. For instance, if parasitoids disperse less well than their herbivorous hosts, habitat fragmentation may lead to higher herbivory in isolated plant patches due to the absence of the third trophic level. Community-level studies suggest that parasitoids tend...