REDUCED PARASITISM OF A LEAF-MINING MOTH ON TREES WITH HIGH INFECTIONFREQUENCIES OF AN ENDOPHYTIC FUNGUS

We investigated relationships between endophytic fungi and a leaf-mini ng moth, Phyllonorycter sp., along an elevational gradient from 2255 t o 2895 m. The fungi and moth larvae inhabit leaves of Quercus gambelii . Fungal frequencies and larval densities varied with elevation. Howev er, larval densities were not associated with the frequencies of infec tion by endophytic fungi. Survival of larvae was positively associated with the most dominant fungus, Gnomonia cerastis, owing to reduced pa rasitism of moth larvae on trees with high frequencies of Gnomonia.