Multiple effects of precipitation on Salix lasiolepis and populations of the stem‐galling sawfly, Euura lasiolepis

Abstract

AbstractRelatively low winter precipitation (e.g., 18–28 cm from October to May compared to 45 to 65 cm) caused reduced growth of the arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis, with number of shoots per stem initiated and shoot length reduced. Resources were reduced for the stem‐galling sawfly, Euura lasiolepis, which declined in numbers after the relatively dry winter of 1980–81. Sawfly phenology was advanced relative to willow phenology in the 1981 generation, causing an additional reduction in resource availability. These direct effects of precipitation on the sawfly were increased by indirect effects on survivorship of the 1981 generation. Egg death in galls increased on water‐stressed willow plants, forming the major mortality in the generation. This resulted in very low survival in the generation and an even lower population in the 1982 generation, even though resources recovered after high precipitation during the 1981–82 winter (46.7 cm). An experiment using high, medium, and low water treatments on potted willow plants demonstrated that the effects on willows and sawflies could be reproduced using only water as a variable.