Influence of nutrient availability on the mechanisms of tolerance to herbivory in an annual grass, <i>Avena barbata</i> (Poaceae)

Suwa, Tomomi; Maherali, Hafiz

doi:10.3732/ajb.95.4.434

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…We thus propose that herbivory is also likely to affect the overall lifespan of leaves. Both factors leaf area and lifespan determine the primary production of deciduous trees [54]. Although plants can compensate loss of leaf area by production of new leaves, leaf re-growth incurs costs and increased risk that newly emerged and less protected leaves are more likely consumed by herbivores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top-Down Control of Herbivory by Birds and Bats in the Canopy of Temperate Broad-Leaved Oaks (Quercus robur)

2011

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The intensive foraging of insectivorous birds and bats is well known to reduce the density of arboreal herbivorous arthropods but quantification of collateral leaf damage remains limited for temperate forest canopies.We conducted exclusion experiments with nets in the crowns of young and mature oaks, Quercus robur, in south and central Germany to investigate the extent to which aerial vertebrates reduce herbivory through predation. We repeatedly estimated leaf damage throughout the vegetation period.Exclusion of birds and bats led to a distinct increase in arthropod herbivory, emphasizing the prominent role of vertebrate predators in controlling arthropods. Leaf damage (e.g., number of holes) differed strongly between sites and was 59% higher in south Germany, where species richness of vertebrate predators and relative oak density were lower compared with our other study site in central Germany. The effects of bird and bat exclusion on herbivory were 19% greater on young than on mature trees in south Germany.Our results support previous studies that have demonstrated clear effects of insectivorous vertebrates on leaf damage through the control of herbivorous arthropods. Moreover, our comparative approach on quantification of leaf damage highlights the importance of local attributes such as tree age, forest composition and species richness of vertebrate predators for control of arthropod herbivory.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top-Down Control of Herbivory by Birds and Bats in the Canopy of Temperate Broad-Leaved Oaks (Quercus robur)

2011

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“…Thus, I. capensis may be more tolerant of antagonism when soil nutrients are adequate; the reduced per-fl ower fl orivory due to higher fl ower production could also be considered a mechanism of tolerance to fl orivores. Soil nutrients, and nitrogen specifi cally, increase tolerance to leaf herbivory in many systems ( Wise and Abrahamson, 2008 ;Kohyani et al, 2009 ;Sun et al, 2010 ; but see Katjiua and Ward, 2006 ;Marshall et al, 2008 ;Suwa and Maherali 2008 ), but only one study has measured tolerance to fl oral antagonists (nectar robbers; Irwin, 2009 ), and there are no reports on the effects of abiotic factors on tolerance to fl oral antagonists. Increased plant growth and allocation to reproduction, both of which we see evidence for in this experiment, can serve as methods of tolerating herbivory in fertilized plots (e.g., Katjiua and Ward, 2006 ;Suwa and Maherali, 2008 ;Wise and Abrahamson, 2008 ;Kohyani et al, 2009 ;Sun et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abiotic conditions affect floral antagonists and mutualists of Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae)

Gorden

Adler

2013

American J of Botany

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• Premise of the study: While the effect of abiotic factors on leaf herbivory is well known, the relative importance of abiotic conditions influencing both mutualists and antagonists is less well understood. Species interactions could enhance or reduce the direct effects of abiotic factors, depending on how mutualists and antagonists respond to abiotic conditions.• Methods: We manipulated soil nutrients and shade in a factorial design and measured soil moisture in the annual Impatiens capensis. We then measured interactions with mutualists (two pollinating species) and antagonists (herbivores, florivores, nectar thieves, and flower bud gallers), as well as plant growth, floral rewards, and plant reproduction.• Key results: Fertilizer increased plant growth, floral attractiveness, mutualist and antagonist interactions, and plant reproduction. Shade had no effects, and soil moisture was negatively associated with plant growth and reproduction. All effects were additive. Mutualist and antagonist floral interactions both increased on fertilized plants, but antagonists increased at a greater rate, leading to a larger ratio of antagonist to mutualist interactions on fertilized plants. Despite having more antagonists, fertilized plants still had significantly higher reproduction, suggesting higher tolerance to antagonists.• Conclusions: Abiotic effects can have consistent effects on antagonists and mutualists, and on both floral and leaf antagonists. However, tolerance to antagonisms increased in favorable conditions. Thus, the direct positive effects of favorable abiotic conditions on plants outweighed negative indirect effects via increased antagonisms, which may lead to selection to grow in high‐nutrient microsites in spite of increased herbivory.

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“…Because chlorophyll is the dominant leaf pigment and correlates with leaf nitrogen content in Poaceae (Suwa and Maherali 2008), we also quantiÞed chlorophyll content via an indirect measure. Thickness was measured using an electronic caliper (Thermo Fisher ScientiÞc, Waltham, MA).…”

Section: Plant Factors Affecting Use By Spodopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioenergy Crops Miscanthus × giganteus and Panicum virgatum Reduce Growth and Survivorship of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Nabity¹,

Zangerl²,

Berenbaum³

et al. 2011

jnl. econ. entom.

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Large-scale cultivation of plants used as biofuels is likely to alter the ecological interactions of current agricultural crops and their insect pests in a myriad of ways. Recent evidence suggests many contemporary maize pests will be able to use potential biofuel crops such as switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., and miscanthus as hosts. To determine how suitable these biofuels are to the maize, Zea mays L., pest and generalist graminivore, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we examined host plant preference and larval performance on foliage grown for commercial biofuel production. Larvae fed leaf tissue from both field- and greenhouse-grown switchgrass and miscanthus were monitored for survival, development, and food use relative to field-grown maize. Survivorship on biofuel crops was high on greenhouse-grown leaf tissue but severely reduced for field-grown switchgrass, and no larvae survived on field-grown miscanthus. Larvae fed field-grown tissue had larger head capsules yet achieved lower pupal weights because the increased toughness of the leaf tissue prevented the assimilation of nitrogen. Given that larvae overwhelmingly preferred maize to other biofuel crop species and that survival and performance were dramatically reduced on biofuel crop species, it is likely that biofuel crops, as grown for field cultivation, will suffer reduced damage from maize pests such as S. frugiperda because of reduced suitability.

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Influence of nutrient availability on the mechanisms of tolerance to herbivory in an annual grass, Avena barbata (Poaceae)

Cited by 29 publications

References 58 publications

Top-Down Control of Herbivory by Birds and Bats in the Canopy of Temperate Broad-Leaved Oaks (Quercus robur)

Top-Down Control of Herbivory by Birds and Bats in the Canopy of Temperate Broad-Leaved Oaks (Quercus robur)

Abiotic conditions affect floral antagonists and mutualists of Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae)

Bioenergy Crops Miscanthus × giganteus and Panicum virgatum Reduce Growth and Survivorship of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

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