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Item The effect of some substituted phenoxyacetic acids on the respiration of three species of fern : a thesis presented at Massey Agricultural College in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in the University of New Zealand(Massey University, 1955) Simpson, G. M.The problem of control ot weeds in agricultural land has long confronted man, and toxic chemicals have been employed for half a century in eradication or suppression of weeds. The last two decades have seen a tremendous expansion in the use and variety of applications, principally because of the development ot translocated organic compounds of a growth regulatory type which very often are highly selective. Some indication of the interest in chemical weed control, for example with the substituted phenoxyacetic acids, can be seen in the fact that in the U.S.A. alone over twenty million pounds of 2.4-D is manufactured annually. The volume of research has likewise been tremendous. Norman et al. (1), reviewing the field in 1950 covered some three hundred and fifty new papers for the previous year on phytotoxicity. The mechanism of action of growth regulatory type herbicides is an important problem, particularly in so far as it may throw light on the physiology of plant growth and development, and their control by plant hormones. The general approach is still largely empirical, involving a high degree of speculation in the selection and synthesis of new compounds followed by trial and error tests in the laboratory, glasshouse and fields. Detailed physiological studies have been limited and it is only by such study that the principles of toxic action can be laid down. This study is an attempt to examine one small facet, the effect of plant regulators on respiration of a complex and rapidly expanding field of endeavour.Item The non-target effects of the introduced parasitoid Trigonospila brevifacies (Hardy) (Diptera: Tachninidae) on the native fauna of New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 1999) Munro, Vanessa M WThe Australian tachinid parasitoid Trigonospila brevifacies (Hardy) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was introduced to New Zealand 30 years ago as a biological control for the exotic orchard pest Epiphyas postvittana Walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Trigonospila brevifacies, an endoparasitoid of late-instar lepidopteran larvae, was introduced concurrently with Xanthopimpla rhopaloceros Krieger (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of lepidopteran pupae. Trigonospila brevifacies is now known to attack several non-target pest and non-pest lepidopteran species. The impact of T brevifacies on non-target fauna was investigated. Life history data (i.e., longevity, fecundity, productivity and sex ratio) for T. brevifacies were quantified in the laboratory. These data and field data were used to investigate whether superparasitism is an adaptive reproductive strategy for this species by comparing the return in adult progeny per egg for single and multiple egg clutches. Superparasitism may be advantageous for the survival of rare non-target hosts. Data from a two-year, six-site survey of native forests determined that T. brevifacies attacked eight non-target Lepidoptera. The characteristic common to the phylogenetically diverse host group was that all are concealed feeders. Laboratory testing showed that pre-imaginal conditioning of parasitoid larvae did not confer adults with a preference for the host species in which they were reared. Quantitative food web data from a two-year field survey showed that T. brevifacies was the numerically dominant parasitoid of the species attacking native Tortricidae at sub-canopy levels and that it competed for hosts with 12 native and one other introduced species of parasitoid. The abundance of larval hosts and T brevifacies was compared between the edges and centres of forest patches. Host density was determined by quadrat counts and parasitoid abundance by sticky traps. Both larval hosts and the parasitoid were more abundant at the forest edge. Trap hosts were also used to quantify parasitism levels along edge to forest-centre tansects. Parasitism by T. brevifacies was highest at forest edges declining to almost zero at 30m into a forest, indicating that forest centres with continuous canopy should offer hosts' refuge from T. brevifacies parasitism. Archival and field data were used to determine the present geographical ranges of T. brevifacies and X. rhopaloceros and climatic data were used to predict where else in New Zealand these two parasitoids are likely to colonise in the future.