The relative importance of olfactory signaling to fly-moss spore dispersal network structure of two sympatric moss species in Newfoundland, Canada

Rathnayake, D. G. R. M. Manoj Kaushalya (2019) The relative importance of olfactory signaling to fly-moss spore dispersal network structure of two sympatric moss species in Newfoundland, Canada. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

In Newfoundland, Splachnum ampullaceum (herbivore dung scent mimic) and S. pensylvanicum (omnivore dung scent mimic) grow in bogs on summer moose (Alces alces L.) dung and via olfactory and visual deception have their spores dispersed to dung by flies. In Chapter 2, the addition of carnivore and herbivore-mimicking scent increased the number of visiting flies, and the addition of carnivore scent attracted carrion flies, and this effect was greatest for S. pensylvanicum. In Chapter three consecutive years of fly trapping data for both species of moss were compared using Network analyses. Results showed that both mosses attract a generalized fly fauna (lower network specialization (H₂average) 0.171), most of which are also associated with summer moose dung (average connectance low 0.799). Also, the fly faunas of S. ampullaceum and S. pensylvanicum did not differ from each other in all three years.

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