Do Consumers Maximize Plant Fitness?

Owen, D. F.; Wiegert, Richard G.

doi:10.2307/3543467

Cited by 229 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…(It should also be remembered that many negative findings probably remain unpublished). Finally, at the other end of the continuum (4), certain plants appear to benefit from being eaten (Harris, 1974;Owen & Wiegert, 1976;McNeil & Southwo~d, 1978;Boscher, 1979;Owen, 1980;Hendrip& Trapp, 1981;Heinz & Parrella, 1992).…”

Section: Hypotheses Of Attack and Defencementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of insect‐plant relationships ‐ a devil's advocate approach*

Jermy

1993

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Most hypotheses concerning the evolution of insect-plant relationships are based on the assumptions that, (1) phytophagous insects reduce plant fitness, and that (2) insect-plant relationships are the result of unconstrained selection. It can be shown, however, that there is little evidence to support these assumptions. As an alternative, it is proposed that the evolution of insect-plant relationships results primarily from autonomous evolutionary events; namely from heritable functional changes within the insects' nervous system that determine plant recognition and ultimately host plant specificity. These changes cannot be evoked by selective ecological agents. They originate from intrinsic changes (mutations sensu lato) within the insect genome. Ecological factors play a secondary role: by either supporting or preventing the establishment of the new genotype with the novel food preference.

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Section: Hypotheses Of Attack and Defencementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of insect‐plant relationships ‐ a devil's advocate approach*

Jermy

1993

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…The disproportionate ecological success of terrestrial and marine grasses is largely due to the extreme morphological, physiological and reproductive adaptations that these groups have evolved in the face of intense herbivory (Dublin 1995, Sinclair 1995. Plants adapted to herbi vory show a great deal of plasticity in their ability to reallocate stored carbon resources, compensate growth, increase shoot density or produce chemical defences to protect the plant from intensive herbivore grazing (Harper 1977, Cumming 1982, Owen & Wiegert 1976, McNaughton 1979, Paige & Whitham 1987, McNaughton & Banyi kwa 1995, Ferraro & Oesterheld 2002. This reallocation is often performed at the cost of future reproductive output, ABSTRACT: Although the dominant ecological paradigm considers herbivory to play an insignificant role in seagrass ecosystems, past herbivore densities were high enough to result in significant reduction of seagrass growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish herbivory leads to shifts in seagrass Posidonia oceanica investments in sexual reproduction

Planes¹,

Raventós²,

Ferrari³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…This response has been called "overcompensation" (Owen 1980, Owen and Wiegert 1976, 1981 to signify that production exceeds the level needed to…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defoliation increased above-ground productivity in a semi-arid grassland

Loeser¹,

Crews²,

Sisk³

2004

REM

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In light of the continuing debate regarding overcompensation we studied the responses of above -ground biomass in a high -elevation, semi -arid grassland to defoliation, defoliation history, and livestock grazing. The above -ground annual net primary productivity (ANPP) was measured over 2 years in one -hundred twenty, 1 -m2 plots that were exposed to single-and multi -year defoliation and grazing treatments. Plant communities showed an average increase in ANPP of 31 %-45% due to a single defoliation event.The most conservative estimate of average ANPP of defoliated subplots was 29.4 g In-2 greater than the non -defoliated controls. A history of defoliation, due to clipping or grazing, lessened the magnitude of the compensatory response, but above-ground overcompensation of biomass was still observed, ranging on average from 17% to 26 %. One dominant species, squirreltail grass [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezeyi], accounted for nearly one -third of the community -level increases in ANPP. In contrast to above -ground patterns, below -ground root production of squirreltail did not increase in response to defoliation events.These results suggest that the above -ground production of highelevation, semi -arid grasslands in the American Southwest may be temporarily increased through certain grazing events, and may help explain shifts in species dominance in grasslands exposed to long -term grazing by livestock.Key Words: high -elevation grasslands, ANPP, overcompensation, clipping, root biomass, western wheatgrass, squirreltailThe hypothesis that certain plant species can respond to a defoliation event, such as grazing by an herbivore, in a manner that increases their reproductive fitness or productivity has recently attained greater acceptance in the scientific literature (Strauss and Agrawal 1999, Agrawal 2000). This response has been called "overcompensation" (Owen 1980, Owen and Wiegert 1976, 1981 to signify that production exceeds the level needed toWe gratefully acknowledge the assistance of S. Mezulis, L. Taylor, Z. Bayham, R. Rieder, G. Kendall, J. Chirco, J. White, T. Muñoz, and J. Battin in collecting these data. In addition we thank the Diablo Trust, Flying M Ranch, and the Peaks and Mormon Lake Districts of the Coconino National Forest for their participation in this collaborative research effort. This manuscript has benefited from the comments of two anonymous reviewers, the Sisk lab group, and specifically Brad McRae, Lisa Taylor, and Sharon Mezulis. This study has been supported through funding from Northern Arizona University, Merriam Powell Center for Environmental Research, and the Ecological Restoration Institute.Manuscript accepted 21 Feb. 04. ResumenA raíz del debate continuo respecto a la sobrecompensación estudiamos las respuestas de la biomasa aérea a la defoliación en una elevación alta de un pastizal semi -árido, al historial de defoliación y al apacentamiento por ganado. La productividad primaria neta anual aérea (ANPP) se midió en dos años en 120 parcelas de 1 In-2 que fueron expues...

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Do Consumers Maximize Plant Fitness?

Cited by 229 publications

References 14 publications

Evolution of insect‐plant relationships ‐ a devil's advocate approach*

Evolution of insect‐plant relationships ‐ a devil's advocate approach*

Fish herbivory leads to shifts in seagrass Posidonia oceanica investments in sexual reproduction

Defoliation increased above-ground productivity in a semi-arid grassland

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