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Click each citation for to access a pdf of the paper. I included a brief summary of each paper below the citation - read the papers for a more detailed explanation! Please let me know if you have questions, comments, or want more information about any of these studies or systems: lopresti.eric@gmail.com
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2018:
LoPresti, EF; Van Wyk, JI*.; Mola, JM*; Toll, K*; Miller TE & NM Williams. 2018. Effects of wildfire on floral display size and pollinator community reduce outcrossing rate in a plant with a mixed mating system. American Journal of Botany 105: 1154-1164
Wildfires have become a ubiquitous feature of California shrub and woodlands, and are likely incurring pervasive ecological & evolutionary consequences. After wildfires burned much of McLaughlin reserve (Lake Co., CA) in 2015, bee communities shifted towards larger-bodied species. Individual plants of the annual mint Trichostema laxum also got bigger due to increased water, light, and nutrient availability, producing far more flowers per plant. We found that these two changes altered the outcrossing rate of this mixed-mating species; post-burn populations had a ~25% lower outcrossing rate compared to unburned populations.
2018:
LoPresti, EF; Van Wyk, JI*.; Mola, JM*; Toll, K*; Miller TE & NM Williams. 2018. Effects of wildfire on floral display size and pollinator community reduce outcrossing rate in a plant with a mixed mating system. American Journal of Botany 105: 1154-1164
Wildfires have become a ubiquitous feature of California shrub and woodlands, and are likely incurring pervasive ecological & evolutionary consequences. After wildfires burned much of McLaughlin reserve (Lake Co., CA) in 2015, bee communities shifted towards larger-bodied species. Individual plants of the annual mint Trichostema laxum also got bigger due to increased water, light, and nutrient availability, producing far more flowers per plant. We found that these two changes altered the outcrossing rate of this mixed-mating species; post-burn populations had a ~25% lower outcrossing rate compared to unburned populations.
LoPresti, EF; Robinson, MR*; Krimmel, BA* & GK Charles*. 2018. The sticky fruit of manzanita; potential functions beyond epizoochory. Ecology. 99: 2128-2130
Manzanita shrubs (Ericaceae) are found across many habitats in California. The fruit of many manzanita species are sticky and entrap insects. We outline a series of hypotheses for the functional significance of sticky fruit, in addition to the old ‘tried-and-true’ hypothesis of epizoochory (seed dispersal via sticking to animals). We outline the natural history of two species of manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida and A. hooveri), and detail some small experiments we did to test the hypotheses we proposed. While epizoochory certainly occurs in this and other systems, the other interactions modified by sticky fruit are quite understudied.
Manzanita shrubs (Ericaceae) are found across many habitats in California. The fruit of many manzanita species are sticky and entrap insects. We outline a series of hypotheses for the functional significance of sticky fruit, in addition to the old ‘tried-and-true’ hypothesis of epizoochory (seed dispersal via sticking to animals). We outline the natural history of two species of manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida and A. hooveri), and detail some small experiments we did to test the hypotheses we proposed. While epizoochory certainly occurs in this and other systems, the other interactions modified by sticky fruit are quite understudied.
LoPresti, EF. Polyphagy by omnivory: scavenging expands host range of a polyphagous caterpillar. 2018. Oecologia 186: 1007-1015
Many herbivorous insects opportunistically scavenge or eat other insects, and macroevolutionary research has indicated that this omnivory may be linked to the ability to consume many different types of host plants (polyphagy, a rare, but very important trait of herbivorous insects). I tested the highly polyphagous tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) on ten plants of varying suitability. On each, I gave some caterpillars dead fruit flies, and fed others the plant alone. On host plants of lower quality, scavenging helped the caterpillars' growth rates; however, on hosts of good (or terrible) suitability, they had no effect. This suggests that opportunistic carnivory may expand the host range of herbivores to hosts of lesser suitability, though it cannot overcome all mechanisms of host plant resistance.
LoPresti, EF; Krimmel, BA & IS Pearse. Entrapped carrion increases indirect plant resistance and intra-guild predation on a sticky tarweed. 2018. Oikos 127: 1033-1044
Plant defensive traits can mediate a surprising complexity of biotic interactions. In this paper, we detail a combination of observation and small experiments on two species of sticky tarweeds (Madia elegans and Hemizonia congesta). We first outline the interesting food webs found on these plants from our five years of work in these systems. Entrapped insects attract predators, and this protects the plant from caterpillars and weevil larvae. However, when multiple predators co-occur, they often eat each other (intraguild predation - the photo to the left shows a lynx spider eating a stilt bug). We added and subtracted carrion to explore these interactive effects, and found that the amount of intraguild predation depended on the amount of carrion. Interestingly, even at high levels of intraguild predation, the effect of predators on the plant was still beneficial, through reductions in herbivores.
Plant defensive traits can mediate a surprising complexity of biotic interactions. In this paper, we detail a combination of observation and small experiments on two species of sticky tarweeds (Madia elegans and Hemizonia congesta). We first outline the interesting food webs found on these plants from our five years of work in these systems. Entrapped insects attract predators, and this protects the plant from caterpillars and weevil larvae. However, when multiple predators co-occur, they often eat each other (intraguild predation - the photo to the left shows a lynx spider eating a stilt bug). We added and subtracted carrion to explore these interactive effects, and found that the amount of intraguild predation depended on the amount of carrion. Interestingly, even at high levels of intraguild predation, the effect of predators on the plant was still beneficial, through reductions in herbivores.
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LoPresti, EF; Grof-Tisza, P.; Robinson, M.; Godfrey, J. & R. Karban. 2018. Entrapped sand as a plant defence: effects on herbivore performance and preference. Ecological Entomology 43: 154-161 Many sticky plants end up covered in windblown sand or other substrates. To explore the potential defensive role of this formidable armor, we examined effects of entrapped sand on the two herbivores with different feeding strategies: the externally-feeding sphinx moth, Hyles lineata, and an internally-feeding sun moth, Lithariapteryx abroniaeella. We showed that entrapped sand abraded the mandibles and caused reductions in growth rate and pupal weight of the sphinx moth Hyles lineata. When given the choice, Hyles caterpillars also preferred to consume nonsandy foliage. In contrast, the leaf mining caterpillar had no aversion to sand on the surfaces of the plant. -> Press coverage here and here (paywall - I haven't even been able to read it!). |
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2017:
LoPresti, EF. Artificial rainfall increases herbivory on an externally-defended forb. 2017. Arthropod-plant Interactions 11: 871-874
Atriplex rosea, a California summer growing chenopod, is covered in a thin layer of exudates which protect it from herbivory. In the presence of artificial rainfall (it doesn't rain in the CA summer at this location), plants suffer increased herbivory from a leaf beetle. This simple experiment demonstrates that external defenses are liable to be changed by the abiotic environment in potentially important ways.
LoPresti, EF. Artificial rainfall increases herbivory on an externally-defended forb. 2017. Arthropod-plant Interactions 11: 871-874
Atriplex rosea, a California summer growing chenopod, is covered in a thin layer of exudates which protect it from herbivory. In the presence of artificial rainfall (it doesn't rain in the CA summer at this location), plants suffer increased herbivory from a leaf beetle. This simple experiment demonstrates that external defenses are liable to be changed by the abiotic environment in potentially important ways.
LoPresti, EF & Morse, DH. 2017. A parasitoid's odd pupal vigil. Ecology 98: 1722-1723
This short paper details our attempts to understand why some male Phaeogenes hebrus – a wasp that parasitizes Herpetogramma thesausalis moths at the pupal stage - clung to certain host moth pupae, even when the surrounding leaf shelter was manually opened. We found that those pupae contained pre-emergence female wasps. We did a little experiment and found that mating success of the male parasitoids was far higher in small containers than in progressively larger ones. The odd behavior of clinging to a female pupae for a day or more before emergence – mediated by the wasp’s ability to select pupae hosting a female conspecific – may increase male reproductive success by ensuring mating prior to their leaving the caterpillar shelters.
This short paper details our attempts to understand why some male Phaeogenes hebrus – a wasp that parasitizes Herpetogramma thesausalis moths at the pupal stage - clung to certain host moth pupae, even when the surrounding leaf shelter was manually opened. We found that those pupae contained pre-emergence female wasps. We did a little experiment and found that mating success of the male parasitoids was far higher in small containers than in progressively larger ones. The odd behavior of clinging to a female pupae for a day or more before emergence – mediated by the wasp’s ability to select pupae hosting a female conspecific – may increase male reproductive success by ensuring mating prior to their leaving the caterpillar shelters.
Grof-Tisza, P; LoPresti, EF; Heath, SK & R Karban. 2017. Plant structural complexity and mechanical defenses mediate predator–prey interactions in an odonate–bird system. Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1002/ece3.2705
Dragonflies are very vulnerable to bird predation when they leave ponds to molt from their aquatic nymphal stage into winged adulthood. Following an observation that nymphs congregate on thistles to molt, we tested their preference and survival on spiny and complex plants, using fake plant models. We found that both traits are preferred, and protect the insects during this critical transition.
Eiseman, C.S.; Feldman, T.S.; LoPresti, E.F. & M.W. Palmer. 2017. First North American records of Porphyrosela minuta Clarke (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), with notes on its native congener, P. desmodiella (Clemens). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119: 18-23
A leaf miner of clover, originally from South America, has been recently found in various parts of the United States. This paper presents these records and how to distinguish this recent introduction from a native relative.
Dragonflies are very vulnerable to bird predation when they leave ponds to molt from their aquatic nymphal stage into winged adulthood. Following an observation that nymphs congregate on thistles to molt, we tested their preference and survival on spiny and complex plants, using fake plant models. We found that both traits are preferred, and protect the insects during this critical transition.
Eiseman, C.S.; Feldman, T.S.; LoPresti, E.F. & M.W. Palmer. 2017. First North American records of Porphyrosela minuta Clarke (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), with notes on its native congener, P. desmodiella (Clemens). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119: 18-23
A leaf miner of clover, originally from South America, has been recently found in various parts of the United States. This paper presents these records and how to distinguish this recent introduction from a native relative.
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LoPresti, EF & K Toll. 2017. The three criteria for resistance by carrion provisioning; insect entrapment and predator enrichment on Mimulus bolanderi. Ecological Entomology, 42: 230-234. An ephemeral, fire-following sticky monkeyflower (Diplacus [Mimulus] bolanderi.) seems to get protection from bodyguarding predators that feed on entrapped insects. We discuss the natural history of this plant species, the fact that this indirect defense is very facultative, as well as ways to test this potential indirect defensive strategy. |
2016:
LoPresti, EF and Karban, R. 2016. Chewing sandpaper: grit, plant apparency and plant defense in sand-entrapping plants. Ecology. doi: 10.1890/15-1696 (natural history supplement here)
-> press: here, here and here
-> radio segment here
Many sticky plants in sandy areas incidentally entrap sand. While this has been hypothesized as a defense against chewing herbivores several times since William Beal first proposed it in 1878, the idea had not been tested. In manipulative experiments on Abronia latifolia and Navarettia mellita, we found that sand is an effective defense against chewing herbivory, and that this crusty covering is not acting as camouflage, but rather as a direct defense.
LoPresti, EF and MG Weber. 2016. Breaking barriers in evolutionary biology: a pioneering woman in science and her early theory of plant chemical macroevolution. American Naturalist. 188: 2-4
Marj and I summarized and contextualized a really cool paper by Helen de Abbott about how plant chemistry evolves; the first written of this topic at all. While the specifics she detailed were mostly incorrect (as she was working off a massively flawed phylogeny), her ideas of chemical evolution were a century ahead of her time!
LoPresti, EF and Karban, R. 2016. Chewing sandpaper: grit, plant apparency and plant defense in sand-entrapping plants. Ecology. doi: 10.1890/15-1696 (natural history supplement here)
-> press: here, here and here
-> radio segment here
Many sticky plants in sandy areas incidentally entrap sand. While this has been hypothesized as a defense against chewing herbivores several times since William Beal first proposed it in 1878, the idea had not been tested. In manipulative experiments on Abronia latifolia and Navarettia mellita, we found that sand is an effective defense against chewing herbivory, and that this crusty covering is not acting as camouflage, but rather as a direct defense.
LoPresti, EF and MG Weber. 2016. Breaking barriers in evolutionary biology: a pioneering woman in science and her early theory of plant chemical macroevolution. American Naturalist. 188: 2-4
Marj and I summarized and contextualized a really cool paper by Helen de Abbott about how plant chemistry evolves; the first written of this topic at all. While the specifics she detailed were mostly incorrect (as she was working off a massively flawed phylogeny), her ideas of chemical evolution were a century ahead of her time!
McKenna-Foster, Perrrotti, L; Blyth, J; LoPresti, E & R. Kennedy. 2016. Measuring success of a reintroduced population of the American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus Olivier) to Nantucket Island, MA. Journal of Insect Conservation. 20: 895-904
This charismatic large beetle has been lost in almost all of its former range. Here we summarized decades of reintroduction work on Nantucket Island including movement of marked individuals, breeding success, overwintering success and more. While this reintroduction has been largely unsuccessful, we found methods that might work in this and other future ABB reintroduction projects.
This charismatic large beetle has been lost in almost all of its former range. Here we summarized decades of reintroduction work on Nantucket Island including movement of marked individuals, breeding success, overwintering success and more. While this reintroduction has been largely unsuccessful, we found methods that might work in this and other future ABB reintroduction projects.
LoPresti, EF. 2016. Chemicals on plant surfaces are a heretofore unrecognized, but ecologically-informative, class for investigations into plant defense. Biological Reviews. 91: 1102-1117
A great diversity of plants have chemical defenses on their surfaces, secreted there by a multitude of specialized tissues. These chemicals are not usually considered a class of their own. However, because they are in a different location than most chemical defenses, their modes of activity and interactions with other organisms and the environment fundamentally differ from internal defenses (at least, that's what I try to convince you of in this paper!).
LoPresti, EF; Karban, R; Robinson, ML.; Grof-Tisza, P. and WC Wetzel. 2016. The natural history supplement; furthering natural history study amongst ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 97: 305-311
Given that most ecologists do lots of incidental natural history, we advocate that people include data and observation in a supplement as to give future scientists information on the system.
A great diversity of plants have chemical defenses on their surfaces, secreted there by a multitude of specialized tissues. These chemicals are not usually considered a class of their own. However, because they are in a different location than most chemical defenses, their modes of activity and interactions with other organisms and the environment fundamentally differ from internal defenses (at least, that's what I try to convince you of in this paper!).
LoPresti, EF; Karban, R; Robinson, ML.; Grof-Tisza, P. and WC Wetzel. 2016. The natural history supplement; furthering natural history study amongst ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 97: 305-311
Given that most ecologists do lots of incidental natural history, we advocate that people include data and observation in a supplement as to give future scientists information on the system.
2015:
LoPresti, EF; Pearse, IS & Charles, GK. 2015. The siren song of a sticky plant. Columbines provision mutualist arthropods by attracting and killing passerby insects. Ecology doi: 10.1890/15-0342.1 (natural history supplement here)
-> a really nice write-up on this project by Elizabeth Preston here.
-> more press here, here, here, and a video! here.
A sticky columbine is attractive to small flying insects, which become entrapped on its surfaces. These dead insects provision predatory bugs and spiders, which reduced herbivory on the plant in a manipulative experiment.
LoPresti, EF; Pearse, IS & Charles, GK. 2015. The siren song of a sticky plant. Columbines provision mutualist arthropods by attracting and killing passerby insects. Ecology doi: 10.1890/15-0342.1 (natural history supplement here)
-> a really nice write-up on this project by Elizabeth Preston here.
-> more press here, here, here, and a video! here.
A sticky columbine is attractive to small flying insects, which become entrapped on its surfaces. These dead insects provision predatory bugs and spiders, which reduced herbivory on the plant in a manipulative experiment.
Gidmark, NJ; Taylor, C; LoPresti, EF & Brainerd, E. 2015. Functional morphology of durophagy in Black Carp, Mylopharygodon piceus. Journal of Morphology. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20430
A description of the morphology of this specialized mollusk-eating fish native to Asia. The extreme bite force generated by this fish was demonstrated in Gidmark (2014) and this paper summarizes the musculature and bone structure of this cool fish.
LoPresti, EF; Warren, AW; Stichter, SB & Eastwood, R. 2015. A review of the historical occurrence of Hesperia attalus in New England. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. 48: 9-12
The dotted skipper is a rare and in some states endangered butterfly of coastal plains. Here we reanalyze the records of this species, as the most recent, and perhaps most reliable, record in the northeast was a misidentification with a more common species.
2014:
LoPresti, EF. 2014. Chenopod salt bladders deter insect herbivores. Oecologia. 174: 921-930 doi: 10.1007/s00442-013-2827-0
Specialized structures on chenopod stems and leaves have been long recognized as important in osmoregulation. However, they are also important in resistance to herbivory in a great many species.
LoPresti, EF & Angulo F. 2014. New bird distribution records for Lambayeque, Peru: Nomonyx dominicus (Linneaus 1766) (Aves: Anatidae) and Incaspiza pulchra (Sclater, 1886) (Aves: Emberizidae). Checklist 10: 618-620 doi:10.15560/10.3.618
Fernando and I detail records of two interesting bird populations in northwestern Peru which greatly extended their known ranges.
LoPresti, EF. 2014. Chenopod salt bladders deter insect herbivores. Oecologia. 174: 921-930 doi: 10.1007/s00442-013-2827-0
Specialized structures on chenopod stems and leaves have been long recognized as important in osmoregulation. However, they are also important in resistance to herbivory in a great many species.
LoPresti, EF & Angulo F. 2014. New bird distribution records for Lambayeque, Peru: Nomonyx dominicus (Linneaus 1766) (Aves: Anatidae) and Incaspiza pulchra (Sclater, 1886) (Aves: Emberizidae). Checklist 10: 618-620 doi:10.15560/10.3.618
Fernando and I detail records of two interesting bird populations in northwestern Peru which greatly extended their known ranges.
2013:
Gidmark, NJ; Konow, N; LoPresti, EF & Brainerd, EL. (2013) Bite force is limited by the length-tension relationship of muscles in the durophagous black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus. Biology Letters. 9(2). doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1181
We tested at what gape size a molluskivorous carp generated its maximum bite force (and thus, what size hard-shelled prey it was able to eat). We found, as hypothesized, that it had higher bite force at intermediate gapes.
LoPresti, EF & Morse, DH. 2013. Costly leaf shelters protect moth pupae from parasitoids. Arthropod-plant Interactions. 7:445–453 doi: 10.1007/s11829-013-9261-4
Fern moth caterpillars roll the ends of ferns into little shelters where they live, feed, and pupate. We showed that these shelters have a cost (in time investment), yet effectively protect the pupae from a parasitoid wasp.
Gidmark, NJ; Konow, N; LoPresti, EF & Brainerd, EL. (2013) Bite force is limited by the length-tension relationship of muscles in the durophagous black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus. Biology Letters. 9(2). doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1181
We tested at what gape size a molluskivorous carp generated its maximum bite force (and thus, what size hard-shelled prey it was able to eat). We found, as hypothesized, that it had higher bite force at intermediate gapes.
LoPresti, EF & Morse, DH. 2013. Costly leaf shelters protect moth pupae from parasitoids. Arthropod-plant Interactions. 7:445–453 doi: 10.1007/s11829-013-9261-4
Fern moth caterpillars roll the ends of ferns into little shelters where they live, feed, and pupate. We showed that these shelters have a cost (in time investment), yet effectively protect the pupae from a parasitoid wasp.
2012:
Celis-Diez, JL; Ippi, S; LoPresti, EF, Salinas D; Diaz, IA & Willson, M.F. 2012. Presencia y nidificacion de la tenca (Mimus thenca) en el norte de la isla de Chiloe. La Chiricoca. 14:15-17
While working in Chile, I found the farthest south nest of a Chilean Mockingbird yet reported. Here we summarize the sightings near the (current) southern extent of their expanding range (in Spanish).
Stager, M; Lopresti, EF; Angulo F; Ardia DR; Caraces-Apaza D; Cooper CB; Molina J; Taylor N & Winkler DW. 2012. Reproductive biology of a narrowly endemic Tachycineta swallow in dry, seasonal forest in coastal Peru. Ornitologia Neotropical. 23:1 95-112
We summarize the natural history of a little-studied, yet very interesting, Peruvian endemic swallow.
In review/revision/purgatory:
LoPresti, EF. Epizoochorous dispersal of mucilaginous diaspores; an overlooked but potentially important phenomenon. (submitted)
LoPresti, EF; K Toll & MG Weber. Inflorescence architecture constrains production of diaspore morphs with different dispersal potentials; a field study in Abronia pogonantha (submitted)
LoPresti EF, J Goidell†, J Mola*, M Page*, C Specht, C Stuligross*, MG Weber, NM Williams, R Karban R. The lever hypothesis for pendulous actinomorphic hummingbird flowers; experimental evidence from a columbine. (submitted)
LoPresti, EF & BA Krimmel*. The damage control hypothesis: plant resource provisioning to non-mutualists ameliorates herbivore damage. (in revision)
Karban, R.; LoPresti, EF; Vermeij, G; Latta, R. Unidirectional grass hairs usher insects off leaves and away from meristems. (in revision)
Morse, DH & EF LoPresti. Deep phylogenetic splits in ferns do not determine performance of a fern-feeding caterpillar. (purgatory: rejected and preparing slowly for new submission)
Karban, R, EF LoPresti, A Pepi and P Grof-Tisza. Sticky trichomes as an inducible defense in wild tobacco. (submitted)
Non-refereed articles:
LoPresti, EF. Nantucket Butterflies: past and present. Massachusetts Butterflies. 37: Fall 2011
LoPresti, EF; Mckenna-Foster, AM; Perrotti, L & Blyth, J. American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) survey on Nantucket, 2011. Report to US Fish & Wildlife Service, November, 2011.
LoPresti, EF. Trichostema laxum. California Native Plant Society Bulletin. April, 2016.
Lopresti, EF. California’s bounty of sticky, oily, slimy, and otherwise interesting plants. Lasthenia. 46: 4.