Trophic cascades in bell miner‐associated dieback forests: Quantifying relationships between leaf quality, psyllids and P syllaephagus parasitoids

A significant negative correlation was found between leaf toughness and foliar nitrogen content, indicating that younger leaves with higher nitrogen levels support greater psyllid abundances. This relationship is further influenced by the presence of bell miners (Manorina melanophrys), which protect psyllids from predation, thereby promoting lerp-forming psyllids—some of which reduce leaf lifespan. The study, conducted in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, identified 14 Psyllaephagus species, including primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids, with their abundances positively linked to lerp availability but not directly to psyllid parasitism rates. Epicormic foliage, produced post-defoliation, may enhance Glycaspis psyllid populations, creating 'lerp hotspots' that attract bell miners. These findings suggest complex trophic interactions and feedback mechanisms in bell miner-associated dieback (BMAD) forests, warranting further longitudinal study.

Steinbauer, M. J., Sinai, K. M. J., Anderson, A., Taylor, G. S., & Horton, B. M. (2014). Trophic cascades in bell miner‐associated dieback forests: Quantifying relationships between leaf quality, psyllids and Psyllaephagus parasitoids. Austral Ecology, 40(1), 77–89. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12170