Papers by Tuuli-Marjaana Koski
‘Cry for help’ hypothesis predicts that attraction of predators with chemical or visual cues can ... more ‘Cry for help’ hypothesis predicts that attraction of predators with chemical or visual cues can decrease insect damage of plants. Visual cues involve changes in photosynthetic activity and the reflectance of leaves, and there is some evidence that birds may use these changes as foraging cues. However, changes in the visual properties of leaves have not been quantified and it is not known how birds see these changes. We also presented and tested a new ‘reduction in camouflage’ hypothesis (not mutually exclusive with cry for help) stating that herbivore-mediated changes in leaf colour can increase the conspicuousness of herbivore against leaves. To define changes in the visual properties of leaves, their detectability to birds, and whether these changes affect the conspicuousness of herbivore, we manipulated the level of herbivory in silver birch trees (Betula pendula) with autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larvae, and used blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) vision models to images of leaves and larvae. Hue, luminance (lightness), contrast, light transmission, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activity and water content of the leaves were compared between herbivore-damaged and control trees. The leaves of herbivore-damaged trees had a decreased chlorophyll a concentration, increased contrast and they reflected more longer wavelengths. However, these changes are likely not obvious to birds. In contrast to our expectation, there were only minor differences in conspicuousness of larvae against the leaves of damaged trees, which may be very subtle to predator vision. Nevertheless, according to visual models, larvae should be easily detectable to birds from both herbivore-damaged and control trees.
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2014
Some insectivorous birds orient towards insect-defoliated trees even when they do not see the fol... more Some insectivorous birds orient towards insect-defoliated trees even when they do not see the foliar damage or the herbivores. There are, however, only a few studies that have examined the mechanisms behind this foraging behaviour. Previous studies suggest that birds can use olfactory foraging cues (e.g. volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by defoliated plants), indirect visual cues or a combination of the two sensory cues. VOCs from insect-defoliated plants are known to attract natural enemies of herbivores, and researchers have hypothesized that VOCs could also act as olfactory foraging cues for birds. We conducted three experiments across a range of spatial scales to test this hypothesis. In each experiment, birds were presented with olfactory cues and their behavioural responses or foraging outcomes were observed. In the first experiment, two different
VOC blends, designed to simulate the volatile emissions of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) after defoliation by autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larvae, were used in behavioural experiments in aviaries with pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). The second experiment
was a field-based trial of bird foraging efficiency; the same VOC blends were applied to mountain birches, silver birches (B. pendula) and European white birches (B. pubescens) with plasticine larvae attached to the trees to serve as artificial prey for birds and provide a means to monitor predation rate. In the third experiment, the attractiveness of silver birch saplings defoliated by autumnal moth larvae versus intact controls was
tested with great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in an aviary. Birds did not orient towards either artificial or real trees with VOC supplements or towards herbivore-damaged saplings when these saplings and undamaged alternatives were hidden from view. These findings do not support the hypothesis that olfactory foraging cues are necessary in the attraction of birds to herbivore-damaged trees.
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Papers by Tuuli-Marjaana Koski
VOC blends, designed to simulate the volatile emissions of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) after defoliation by autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larvae, were used in behavioural experiments in aviaries with pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). The second experiment
was a field-based trial of bird foraging efficiency; the same VOC blends were applied to mountain birches, silver birches (B. pendula) and European white birches (B. pubescens) with plasticine larvae attached to the trees to serve as artificial prey for birds and provide a means to monitor predation rate. In the third experiment, the attractiveness of silver birch saplings defoliated by autumnal moth larvae versus intact controls was
tested with great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in an aviary. Birds did not orient towards either artificial or real trees with VOC supplements or towards herbivore-damaged saplings when these saplings and undamaged alternatives were hidden from view. These findings do not support the hypothesis that olfactory foraging cues are necessary in the attraction of birds to herbivore-damaged trees.
VOC blends, designed to simulate the volatile emissions of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) after defoliation by autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larvae, were used in behavioural experiments in aviaries with pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). The second experiment
was a field-based trial of bird foraging efficiency; the same VOC blends were applied to mountain birches, silver birches (B. pendula) and European white birches (B. pubescens) with plasticine larvae attached to the trees to serve as artificial prey for birds and provide a means to monitor predation rate. In the third experiment, the attractiveness of silver birch saplings defoliated by autumnal moth larvae versus intact controls was
tested with great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in an aviary. Birds did not orient towards either artificial or real trees with VOC supplements or towards herbivore-damaged saplings when these saplings and undamaged alternatives were hidden from view. These findings do not support the hypothesis that olfactory foraging cues are necessary in the attraction of birds to herbivore-damaged trees.