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Showing result 1 - 5 of 21 swedish dissertations matching the above criteria.
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1. Pests and pest controlling organisms across tropical agroecological landscapes in relation to forest and tree-cover
Abstract : A major challenge in agroecosystems is how to manage the systems so that it reduces crop pests and enhances natural pest control. This thesis investigates patterns of crop pests and top-down effects of birds and arthropod predators in relation to land-use composition across spatial scales. READ MORE
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2. Plant-Herbivore Interactions and Evolutionary Potential of Natural Arabidopsis lyrata Populations
Abstract : In this thesis, I combined field, greenhouse and common-garden experiments to examine the ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant-herbivore interactions and the genetic architecture of fitness-related traits in the insect-pollinated, self-incompatible, perennial herb Arabidopsis lyrata. More specifically, I examined (1) whether damage to leaves and inflorescences affects plant fitness non-additively, (2) whether trichome production is associated with a cost in terms of reduced tolerance to leaf and inflorescence damage, (3) whether young plant resistance to a specialist insect herbivore varies among populations, and (4) whether the evolution of flowering time, floral display and rosette size is constrained by lack of genetic variation or by genetic correlations among traits. READ MORE
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3. Life History and Tolerance and Resistance against Herbivores in Natural Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract : In this thesis, I combined observational studies with field and greenhouse experiments to examine selection on life history traits and variation in tolerance and resistance against herbivores in natural populations of the annual herb Arabidopsis thaliana in its native range. I investigated (1) phenotypic selection on flowering time and plant size, (2) the effects of timing of germination on plant fitness, (3) the effect of leaf damage on seed production, and (4) correlations between resistance against a specialist and a generalist insect herbivore. READ MORE
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4. Interactions between leaf lesions and the phyllosphere microbiota in leafy vegetables
Abstract : Leafy vegetables (baby leaves) are considered an important source and vector for transmission of foodborne pathogens to humans. Contamination can occur from farm to fork. Although ‘rare’, contamination events have a substantial impact on public health. READ MORE
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5. Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Herbivory in the Perennial Herb Lythrum salicaria
Abstract : In this thesis, I combined field, common-garden and greenhouse experiments to examine the ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant-herbivore interactions in the perennial herb Lythrum salicaria. More specifically I examined (1) whether resistance and tolerance to damage from herbivores vary with latitude and are positively related to the intensity of herbivory in natural populations, (2) whether effects of herbivory on plant fitness vary with latitude, (3) whether populations are locally adapted and whether herbivory influences the relative fitness of populations, and (4) whether the intensity and effects of insect herbivory on reproductive output vary locally along a disturbance gradient and are associated with differences in plant resistance. READ MORE