DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/P8RY-WK82
Defense Date
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Derek M. Johnson
Abstract
Fall cankerworm (FCW) outbreaks have recently increased in frequency and intensity in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, especially around cities of Charlotte, NC and Richmond, VA. This study evaluated the effects of two landscape features associated with urbanization, impervious surface and forest cover, on population patterns of FCW and its parasitoids across eastern Virginia. Forest cover was positively related to parasitism rates while impervious surface was positively related to FCW abundance, suggesting that FCW outbreaks may be amplified in urban areas. FCW abundance declined over the two-year period of this study, but parasitism rate increased at most sites. Parasitism was highest at sites that experienced FCW outbreaks first, indicating that parasitoid populations are responding to moth abundances. It remains to be seen whether this outbreak was an aberrant occurrence, or represents a regime shift to more frequent defoliation in Virginia, similar to that in North Carolina urban areas.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
8-2-2016