Ectomycorrhizal fungi occur in remarkably species-rich assemblages. One of the prevailing hypotheses to explain this diversity is niche differentiation; by occupying distinct ecological niches within a site, multiple fungal species are able to co-occur (Bruns, 1995). In this issue of New Phytologist (pp. 000–000), Ishida and colleagues make a significant contribution to our understanding of nic...

Many insects face the challenge to select oviposition sites in heterogeneous environments where biotic and abiotic factors can change over time. One way to deal with this complexity is to use sensory experiences made during developmental stages to locate similar habitats or hosts in which larval development can be maximized. While various studies have investigated oviposition preference and lar...

Limited biological information about Phyllophaga ephilida , a major sweet potato pest in Louisiana, is available. In 2001 and 2002, a study was conducted in the laboratory to investigate the feeding preference of adult Phyllophaga ephilida (Say) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) for the foliage of eight woody plant species: water oak ( Quercus nigra L.), live oak ( Quercus virginiana Mill.), red maple...

Selection on parasites should favor adaptations that maximize the probability of transmission to the definitive host, such as the preference for and use of intermediate hosts or encystment substrata that are likely to be consumed by the definitive host. Eye flukes in the genus Philophthalmus are passed to their definitive avian host through the ingestion of metacercariae encysted on hard substr...