Environmental variables drive phenological events of anemocoric plants and enhance diaspore dispersal potential: A new wind-based approach

Novaes, Letícia Rodrigues; Calixto, Eduardo Soares; Oliveira, Marcos Lima de; Alves-de-Lima, Larissa; Almeida, Odenir de; Torezan‐Silingardi, Helena Maura

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139039

Cited by 31 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…New leaves were mainly produced at the beginning of the rainy season (September–October, Figure 1), as shown by Novaes et al. (2020) for other Cerrado species. At this time, rainfall increases soil moisture enhancing roots nutrients absorption, which is demanding for growth and differentiation of new plant tissues such as leaves (Silva et al., 2011).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…In strong seasonal environments such as the Brazilian Cerrado, rainfall and higher/lower temperatures are concentrated at specific times of the year (October–March). These temporal climate patterns directly influence plant phenology, since in these environments, plants adjust timing of phenophase expression in the most suitable period of the year (Novaes et al., 2020; Silva et al., 2011; Wright, Calderón, & Muller‐Landau, 2019). New leaves were mainly produced at the beginning of the rainy season (September–October, Figure 1), as shown by Novaes et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…peaks in activity or abundance) in plant phenophases (newly flushed leaves, fully expanded leaves, deciduousness, floral buds, flowers and fruits), EFN activity, ant and herbivore abundance throughout the year. For this, we used circular statistical analysis (Morellato, Alberti, & Hudson, 2010; Novaes et al., 2020). Circular statistics evaluate recurring biological events associated with climatic factors, where specific units of time (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Circular statistics evaluate recurring biological events associated with climatic factors, where specific units of time (e.g. months) are converted in angles (Morellato et al, 2010; Novaes et al., 2020). Basically, it uses the presence/absence or abundance of a specific event over time, identifying peaks of activity (events concentrated in specific times).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We converted months into angles, and used the abundance of each factor to calculate the mean vector ( µ ), mean vector length ( r ), median, standard deviation, Rayleigh test Z and Rayleigh test p . Rayleigh test Z with significant values ( p < 0.05) and mean vectors ( r ) close to 1 indicate seasonality of the data, that is, phenological activity was concentrated around one single date or mean angle (Morellato et al, 2010; Novaes et al., 2020). We conducted circular analyses with the package circular (Agostinelli & Lund, 2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate seasonality drives ant–plant–herbivore interactions via plant phenology in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant community

et al. 2020

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Interactions between ants and plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are among the most common mutualisms in Neotropical regions. Plants secrete extrafloral nectar, a carbohydrate‐rich food that attracts ants, which in return protect plants against herbivores. This ant–plant mutualism is subjected to temporal variation, in which abiotic factors can drive the establishment and frequency of such mutualistic interaction. However, studies investigating how abiotic factors (e.g. climate) directly and indirectly influence ant–plant–herbivore interactions are incipient. In this study, we investigated direct and indirect (via plant phenology) effects of temperature and rainfall on ant–plant–herbivore interactions. To address these goals, each month we estimated six plant phenophases (newly flushed leaves, fully expanded leaves, deciduousness, floral buds, flowers and fruits), the activity of EFNs and abundance of ants and herbivores in 18 EFN‐bearing plant species growing in a markedly seasonal region (the Brazilian Cerrado) during a complete growing season. Our results showed that (a) there were marked seasonal patterns in all plant phenophases, EFN activity and the abundance of ants and herbivores; (b) the peak of EFN activity and ant and herbivore abundance simultaneously occurred at the beginning of the rainy season, when new leaves flushed and (c) rainfall directly and indirectly (via changes in the production of new leaves) influenced EFN activity and this in turn provoked changes in ant abundance (but not on herbivores). Synthesis. Overall, our results build towards a better understanding of how climate drives seasonal patterns in ant–plant–herbivore interactions, explicitly considering plant phenology over time.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate seasonality drives ant–plant–herbivore interactions via plant phenology in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant community

et al. 2020

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Time course of inducibility of indirect responses in an ant‐defended plant

Calixto

Del‐Claro

Lange

et al. 2023

Ecology

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Plants have evolved inducible defenses that allow them to minimize costs associated with the production of constitutive defenses when herbivores are not present. However, as a consequence, some plants might experience a period of vulnerability between damage and the onset of defense and/or between the cessation of damage and relaxation of defense. Few studies have examined the time course in the inducible protective mutualism between ants and extrafloral nectary (EFN)‐bearing plants. None has compared the inducibility of EFNs on vegetative versus reproductive parts or in response to different levels of herbivore damage. Here, we disentangle the inducibility process by evaluating extrafloral nectar production and ant attendance over time, the time course of inducibility on different plant parts, and the time course of inducibility in response to different levels of foliar damage in a Brazilian tree, Qualea multiflora (Vochysiaceae). Using simulated herbivory on leaves and flowers, we found that (a) the production of extrafloral nectar from foliar and floral EFNs, as well as ant attendance, exhibited a lag between the moment of damage and the peak of response, followed by a response peak (usually 24 h after damage) at which the defense remains at its maximum level, then declines to prestimulus levels; (b) the time course of inducibility and the peak activity did not differ between EFNs located in vegetative versus reproductive parts, except for sugar concentration, which was higher in EFNs on vegetative parts; and (c) the time course of inducibility of foliar EFNs depended on damage level. Although considered a cost‐saving strategy, inducible defenses can be disadvantageous since they can leave plants vulnerable to attack for extended periods. Our results illuminate the dynamics of the induced response and the underlying mechanisms that might mediate it, ultimately providing new insights into defense strategies employed by plants.

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An Evolutionary Perspective on Plant-Animal Interactions

Del‐Claro

Torezan‐Silingardi

2021

Plant-Animal Interactions

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Environmental variables drive phenological events of anemocoric plants and enhance diaspore dispersal potential: A new wind-based approach

Cited by 31 publications

References 58 publications

Climate seasonality drives ant–plant–herbivore interactions via plant phenology in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant community

Climate seasonality drives ant–plant–herbivore interactions via plant phenology in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant community

Time course of inducibility of indirect responses in an ant‐defended plant

An Evolutionary Perspective on Plant-Animal Interactions

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