1. An Elevation and Drainage Comparison of Predation by Syrphid Flies on Willow Leaf Beetles By: REU Kallin Tea To right: white mountain research station at sunset

2. Outline Introduction High Elevation, Life History of Critters Experimental Design Location of Study Sites Materials and Methods Choosing Sites, Monitoring Results What Happened? Discussion What it all Means?

3. Introduction High Elevation 1800-3600 meters Lower Partial Pressure of Oxygen Cooler Temperatures Photo by:Mark Shelp

4. Chrysomela aeneicollis Found in Eastern Sierra Nevada –2500-3300m –Cool, Moist Areas Natural History well studied –Life stages from egg, larva, to adult Specialist on Willow Leaves –Salicylic Acid –Larva produce toxins

5. Parasyrphus melanderi Found extensively in North-Western Canada and California –2500-3300m Specialist Predator of C. aeneicollis –Consumes eggs and larvae http://www.wmrs.edu/people/BIOs/john%20smiley/beetle_project/CNPStalk_files/frame.htm

6. Experimental Design- 3 Drainages Rock Creek –Heart Lake, Mosquito Flat, Pine Grove –3190m, 3111m, 2837m Bishop Creek (South Fork) –Pipeline, S.L. Parking Lot, La Hupp –3131m, 2996m, 2854m Big Pine Creek (North Fork) –Upper Site, Pond Bog, Falls Site –3229m, 3128m, 2997m

7. Materials and Methods Why these Sites? –Willow Groves –Previous Surveys, –Data Loggers Egg Clutch Marking –All Field Work –How many clutches per site? Follow-up

8. Experimental Design- Study Sites Rock Creek –Heart Lake, Mosquito Flat, Pine Grove –3190m, 3111m, 2837m Bishop Creek (South Fork) –Pipeline, S.L. Parking Lot, La Hupp –3131m, 2996m, 2854m Big Pine Creek (North Fork) –Upper Site, Pond Bog, Falls Site –3229m, 3128m, 2997m

9. Results Drainage Differences? 0% Big Pine Creek 71% South Lake 30% Rock Creek Statistically Significant P-value < 0.0001 Yes!

10. Elevation Differences? Fly Predation in relation to Elevation n= 6 in statistical analysis No

11. Why differences amongst drainages? Difference in Egg Clutch Size? No - Averages 41 Eggs per Clutch

12. Does Fly Presence Kill? 25% Survival w/ Flies 45% Survival w/o Flies P-value < 0.05 Yes Bishop Creek:

13. Overall Survival Difference? 40% Average Survival –42.4% Big Pine Creek –39.1% South Lake –38.6% Rock Creek No

14. Discussion Intuitively –If Fewer Fly Predators in Big Pine Creek, –Then More Survival of Beetle Eggs Possible Explanations –Lower Hatching Percentage –Higher Threat by other Predators (mites, ants) –Higher Occurrence of Cannibalism

15. Discussion Nature is Complex and Sophisticated in Design –Balance Understand it better... –Continue Studies in Future

16. THANK YOU! Wise, and Wacky Mentors Prof. Elizabeth Dahlhoff Prof. Nathan Rank

17. Humble Advisors Dr. Eric Berlow Dr. John Smiley

18. Thanks to all of WMRS Staff, who makes it all possible And... The INTERNS!