An Evolutionary and Ecological Perspective of the Insect Fauna of Ferns

Hendrix, Stephen D.

doi:10.1086/283554

Cited by 88 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Some studies revealed that phytophagous insects prefer to feed on angiosperms more than on ferns (Brues, 1920;Soo Hoo & Fraenkel, 1964;Hendrix, 1980), which would explain the scanty record of these associations in both in extant and fossil ferns. Two opposite explanations about the preference of insects to angiosperm compared with ferns were proposed.…”

Section: A B 231 Robledo Et Al -Phytophagy On Fossil Ferns From Argementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two opposite explanations about the preference of insects to angiosperm compared with ferns were proposed. One explanation is that ferns are poorly attacked by insects, probably because of their low nutritional value (Coe et al, 1987), the presence of anti-herbivore chemical compounds (Swain & Cooper-Driver, 1973;Hendrix, 1977Hendrix, , 1980Cooper-Driver, 1978Rowell et al, 1983), and the absence of nutritionally attractive like fruits, seeds and fl owers (Mehltreter, 2010). A complementary explanation proposes that many extant groups of insects have had a close evolutionary history with angiosperms that would be refl ected in the higher phytophagy levels on angiosperms (Zwölfer, 1978;Strong et al, 1984).…”

Section: A B 231 Robledo Et Al -Phytophagy On Fossil Ferns From Argementioning

confidence: 99%

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Phytophagy on fossil ferns from Argentina (Palo Pintado Formation, Late Miocene): a review of their fossil record and ichnotaxonomy

Robledo¹,

Sarzetti²,

Anzótegui³

2015

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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-Evidence of insect-fern interactions are described for the fi rst time from late Miocene strata of Salta Province, Argentina. Two ichnospecies are defi ned to include fossil traces of surface feeding and hole feeding, located between the secondary veins and adjacent with the primary vein of two species of fossil ferns, Blechnum serrulatiformis Anzótegui & Horn and Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) Iwatsuki. The fi rst ichnospecies corresponding with surface feeding presents oblong traces and both ends are rounded; occupying the entire intercostal space. This type of phytophagy is found for the fi rst time in the fossil record of ferns. The second ichnospecies is similar in shape and location to the previous ichnotaxon, except that all herbivorized tissues are absent. At last, a review of the fossil record of insect-fern associations is performed.Key words: insect-fern interactions, fossil traces, surface feeding, hole feeding.RESUMO -Descreve-se pela primeira vez evidência de interações inseto-samambaia no Mioceno superior da Província de Salta, Argentina. Duas icnoespecies são propostas para incluir rastros fósseis de alimentação superfi cial e alimentação em orifícios, localizadas entre as veias secundárias e adjacentes à veia primária em duas espécies de samambaias fósseis, Blechnum serrulatiformis Anzótegui & Horn e Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) Iwatsuki. A primeira espécie corresponde à alimentação superfi cial, apresenta rastros oblongos com ambos os extremos arredondados e ocupa todo o espaço intercostal. Este é o primeiro registro de alimentação superfi cial em samambaias fósseis. A segunda espécie similar na sua forma e localização ao icnotáxon previamente descrito, exceto que todas as camadas de tecido herbivorizado estão ausentes. Finalmente, uma revisão do registro fóssil das associações inseto-samambaia também é realizada.Palavras-chave: interação inseto-samambaia, traços fósseis, alimentação superfi cial, alimentação em orifício.

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Section: A B 231 Robledo Et Al -Phytophagy On Fossil Ferns From Argementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A B 231 Robledo Et Al -Phytophagy On Fossil Ferns From Argementioning

confidence: 99%

Phytophagy on fossil ferns from Argentina (Palo Pintado Formation, Late Miocene): a review of their fossil record and ichnotaxonomy

Robledo¹,

Sarzetti²,

Anzótegui³

2015

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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“…Ferns and mosses produce secondary metabolites involved in resistance against insects. Insects species feeding on ferns number about 9300 (Cooper-Driver 1978), while those that feed on angiosperms number about 400,000: This difference can be explained because ferns, unlike angiosperms, do not have flowers and fruits that attract insects (Hendrix 1980). Ferns are among the most ancient vascular plants: it is interesting to understand defence mechanisms of lower plants in order to deduce the origin of defences against insects and to estimate if these mechanisms have been conserved during evolution or if they have been established recently in response to a particular selective pressure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbivory induces a ROS burst and the release of volatile organic compounds in the fernPteris vittataL.

Imbiscuso

Trotta

Maffei

et al. 2009

Journal of Plant Interactions

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The arsenic hyper-accumulating fern, Pteris vittata L., was studied to investigate the behavior of lower plants in response to both mechanical (MW) and herbivore wounding (HW). To this end, the cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis was fed on P. vittata and the volatile organic compound (VOC) emission was detected from the fern's head space by using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and analyzed by GC-MS. Controls were represented by unwounded and MW ferns. The fluorescent probe Amplex red was used to investigate the oxidative burst due to MW and HW by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Ferns responded to herbivore wounding events by emitting the sesquiterpenes (Z)-b-farnesene, (E)-b-farnesene, (Z,E)-a-farnesene, (E,E)-a-farnesene and (E)-nerolidol. An oxidative burst was found close to wounded areas in both MW and HW ferns, and young ferns reacted with a higher H 2 O 2 production after HW. The reported data suggest that lower plants, such as ancient ferns, show two events commonly occurring and reported in many higher and more evolved plants after herbivore attack: an oxidative burst and the emission of volatile terpenoids.

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“…A comparison of the numbers of species of insects utilizing ferns and flowering plants as a food source shows that there are far fewer insect species reported to be associated with the ferns. Assuming the total number of phytophagous insects associated with angiosperms as being 357,290 (Hendrix, 1978) then for angiosperms overall (286,000 total) the ratio of insect to plant species is 1:0.8 whereas in ferns (9,300 species) this ratio is 1:24, giving a 30-fold difference.…”

Section: Insect-fern Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today they show greater species diversity than any other plant phyla except for the angiosperms. Part of their success had been attributed to the fact that very few insects apparently utilize ferns as their primary food source (Ehrlich & Raven, 1965;Soo Hoo & Fraenkel, 1964;Southwood, 1973;Swain & Cooper-Driver, 1973;Jermy, 1976) although evidence given in support of this claim is scanty (Hendrix, 1978). The question can therefore be asked "is the apparent lack of feeding by insects on ferns a fact or is it really due to lack of observations or even interest?…”

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confidence: 99%

Insect‐fern Associations

Cooper‐Driver

1978

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The suggestion that ferns are under-utilized as a food source by insects is discussed on the basis of an extensive survey of the literature. Insects associated with ferns are mainly in the orders Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, with a high proportion of sap-feeders and specialist feeders restricted to ferns. Most of the ferns affected are polypodiaceous. The role of secondary plant compounds, in the chemical defense of ferns against insect attack, is discussed. The more ancient insect orders are better represented on ferns than more recent ones, suggesting a long persistent association between ferns and insects.

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An Evolutionary and Ecological Perspective of the Insect Fauna of Ferns

Cited by 88 publications

References 46 publications

Phytophagy on fossil ferns from Argentina (Palo Pintado Formation, Late Miocene): a review of their fossil record and ichnotaxonomy

Phytophagy on fossil ferns from Argentina (Palo Pintado Formation, Late Miocene): a review of their fossil record and ichnotaxonomy

Herbivory induces a ROS burst and the release of volatile organic compounds in the fernPteris vittataL.

Insect‐fern Associations

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