Population density and area: the role of between- and within-patch processes.

Abstract

The relationship between population density and the size of host plant patches was investigated for the red milkweed beetle Tetraopestetraophthalmus inhabiting unmanipulated patches of Asclepias syriaca. The resource concentration hypothesis proposes that density-area patterns, specifically that of increasing herbivore density with patch size, are primarily a function of movement between host plant patches. This research investigated the degree to which movement accounted for density-area patterns. Poisson regression analysis of beetle abundance versus milkweed patch size revealed that beetle density tended to increase with patch size. The pattern of density and patch size resulted from local reproduction and residence time. The density of emerging beetles tended to increase with patch size while emigration rates were unrelated to patch size. Immigration rates were constant with patch size for male beetles, and decreased with patch size for female beetles. Net flux of beetles (immigration - emigration) did not vary with patch size for male beetles and decreased with patch size for female beetles. Comparisons are made between this system and previously studied systems where movement plays a significant role in forming density area patterns. Additionally, several hypotheses are presented which may account for greater in situ recruitment and residence time in large patches.