However, such heavy seeds are also a plentiful food resource used by many animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate, which results in high pre- and post-dispersal seed losses (e.g., Jimenez-Pino et al. Furthermore, the occurrence of Northern Red Oak could stabilize food resources during years when native oak species have poor acorn crops.Ī substantial proportion of deciduous tree species growing in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere produce seeds with large energy reserves that allow their seedlings to successfully compete with other plants. splendana have increased their niche breadths by exploiting invasive oak species and avoiding competition with the Curculio weevils. took significantly longer in acorns of Northern Red Oak. The larval final weights did not differ significantly between host species, but emergence of C. The infestation by Curculio beetles of Northern Red Oak was marginal, less than 1% of the rate in the native oak species. fagiglandana where infestation rates where significantly lower (approximately half) compared to the native oak. We show that acorns of invasive oak species can be equally attractive to C. This study assesses the use of mature acorns of two oak species in Europe (the native Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur and the invasive Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra) by moths Cydia fagiglandana and Cydia splendana and beetles Curculio spp. However, in the longer term local enemies may adapt to using these invasive species as a food source. In their first phase of expanding into new areas, invasive plants often take advantage of the inability of existing herbivores and pathogenic species to exploit them.
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