title: Elemental stoichiometry and compositions of weevil larvae and two acorn hosts under natural phosphorus variation.
abstract: To understand how different trophic organisms in a parasite food chain adapt to the differences in soil nutrient conditions, we investigated stoichiometric variation and homeostasis of multiple elements in two acorn trees, Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima, and their parasite weevil larvae (Curculio davidi Fairmaire) at phosphorus (P)-deficient and P-rich sites in subtropical China where P-rich ores are scattered among dominant P-deficient soils. Results showed that elemental stoichiometry and compositions of both acorns and weevil larvae differed significantly between P-deficient and P-rich sites (p < 0.05), with the largest contribution of acorn and weevil larva P in distinguishing the stoichiometric compositions between the two site types. The two acorn species were statistically separated by their acorn elemental stoichiometry and compositions (p < 0.05), but no difference was observed on weevil larvae between the two acorn species. P was one of the few elements that were non strict homeostasis in both acorns and weevil larvae. These findings highlight the importance of both environmental influence in elemental stoichiometry and composition and physiological regulations of nutritional needs in organisms and provide possible stoichiometric responses of both plants and animals to P loading, a worldwide issue from excess release of P into the environment.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.|Shanghai Urban Forest Research Station, State Forestry Administration, China.
authors.forename: Huawei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.|Shanghai Urban Forest Research Station, State Forestry Administration, China.
authors.forename: Baoming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.|Shanghai Urban Forest Research Station, State Forestry Administration, China.|Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, China.
authors.forename: Chunjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D048889:Weevils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus