An Aphid Population Explosion Induced by Chronic Gamma Irradiation of a Forest

Woodwell, G. M.; Brower, J. H.

An Aphid Population Explosion Induced by Chronic Gamma Irradiation of a Forest

1967

Woodwell, G. M. | Brower, J. H.

A population explosion of the aphid, Myzocallis discolor, occurred on white oaks (Quercus alba) damaged by chronic gamma irradiation. Oaks exposed to 9.5 R/day during 18 months supported maximum aphid populations of 25 winged adults per leaf (350,000/m² of forest). The aphid was not found in the undamaged forest. The irruption was correlated with changes in predator populations and with small changes in the sugar, total N and lipid content of white oak leaves. The relative importance of these two sets of factors could not be determined.

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