Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies.
A model is presented that accounts mechanisticaly for the seasonal change in host-searching behavior exhibited by pipevine swallowtail butterflies in E Texas. The model assumes that the proportion of females searching for broad- (or narrow-) leaved hosts represents an equilibrium determined by the rates at which females switch search modes. Females switched search modes every 1-3h. Results were consistent with the assumption that switching occurs primarily when females alight on and oviposit on the host species for which they are not currently searching. The seasonal change in proportions of broad- and narrow-leaf searchers seems to be a consequence of a seasonal change in the rate at which females alight on hosts for which they were not currently searching. The latter change is possibly due to seasonal changes in the relative abundances of the 3 hosts and to changes in the degree to which surrounding vegetation interferes with a butterfly's ability to detect host plants. -from Authors
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Ecology
- 4102 Ecological applications
- 3109 Zoology
- 3103 Ecology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology
- 0501 Ecological Applications
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Ecology
- 4102 Ecological applications
- 3109 Zoology
- 3103 Ecology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology
- 0501 Ecological Applications