This three year study in Alaska examined the effects of caterpillar damage and simulated damage to dwarf fireweed plants during the growing season and between growing seasons. From June to early August in two week intervals a total of 56 damaged and undamaged shoots were collected to determine the shoot level responses to naturally occurring herbivory damage. Six morphological characteristics were measured for all shoots: height of main stem, length of longest leaf on the main stem, length of longest leaf on main stem, length of longest branch, length of longest leaf on longest branch, number of branches greater than 1 cm long, and presence of any damage or disease. Response of dwarf fire weed clumps to simulated damage was measured on 216 clumps over three sites. Clumps subjected to no damaged, half of the shoots damaged or all of the shoots damaged. Simulated momphid caterpillar damaged was accomplished by clipping the top 1 cm of the youngest shoot or if the lowest floral bud was greater than 1 cm below the apex the shoot was clipped just below the lowest floral bud. The same six morphological traits measured to access natural herbivory were measured on all shoots of clumps assessed.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.