Light Availability Influences Growth‐Defense Trade‐Offs in Big‐Leaf Mahogany (<i>Swietenia macrophylla</i> King)

Abdala‐Roberts, Luis; Moreira, Xoaquín; Cervera, J. Carlos; Parra-Tabla, Vı́ctor

doi:10.1111/btp.12133

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…; Abdala‐Roberts et al . ). Although we did not quantify the extent to which phenolics and trichomes provide resistance against herbivores in R. nudiflora , significant associations (positive or negative) are strongly suggestive of a role of such traits in mediating plant–herbivore interactions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Test of biotic and abiotic correlates of latitudinal variation in defences in the perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora

et al. 2015

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Summary Geographic variation in abiotic factors and species interactions is widespread and is hypothesized to generate concomitant patterns of species trait variation. For example, higher rates of herbivory at lower latitudes are thought to select for increased plant defences, although latitudinal variation in defences may also be influenced directly by abiotic factors and indirectly by predators and parasitoids reducing herbivore pressure. We measured defences of the herb Ruellia nudiflora among 30 populations spanning a latitudinal gradient from northern Yucatan to southern Belize that vary substantially in leaf herbivory (fourfold), seed herbivory (25‐fold) and seed herbivore parasitism (14‐fold). These surveyed populations span one‐third of the species’ latitudinal distribution (5° of latitude), the entire precipitation gradient of its distribution, and one‐third of the temperature gradient of its distribution. Our prior work showed that leaf herbivory decreased with latitude and that seed herbivory increased with latitude. Here, we measured leaf trichome density and leaf and seed phenolics and tested whether latitudinal variation in climate, herbivory and parasitism explained latitudinal variation in these defensive traits. Patterns of variation in leaf trichomes fully supported predictions, with trichome density increasing with a parallel increase in herbivory towards lower latitudes. While seed phenolics were positively associated with herbivory, and seed herbivory tended to increase with latitude, the predicted (positive) association between latitude and defence was not detectable. There was no detectable association between parasitoids and seed defences. In addition, the association between leaf herbivory and phenolics was weak, and leaf phenolics were not associated with latitude. Importantly, variation in the abiotic environment was associated with plant defence, indicating that abiotic factors can play a major role in shaping plant defences, independently of herbivory. Synthesis. Latitudinal variation in abiotic factors may drive concomitant patterns of variation in plant defences, independently of herbivory. Collectively, these findings highlight the need for assessing geographic variation in plant defences from a multi‐factorial perspective, testing for the simultaneous influence of biotic and abiotic factors.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Test of biotic and abiotic correlates of latitudinal variation in defences in the perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora

et al. 2015

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“…For S. macrophylla, the distance among mother trees spanned from 3 to 50 km, which falls within the range used by previous studies to define distinct populations of this species (Gillies et al 1999, Loveless & Gullison 2003. In a previous study, we found significant variation among S. macrophylla maternal families (progeny of each family composed of mixture of full-and half-siblings) in growthrelated traits (e.g., canopy size: 2.5-fold), herbivore resistance (e.g., stem borer attack: 3.8-fold) (Table S1), and chemical defenses (polyphenolics: five-fold variation 10.44 mg/g to 50.39 mg/g; F 5,50 = 6.30, P < 0.0001; data from Moreira et al 2014, see also Abdala-Roberts et al 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Tree Genotypic Diversity and Species Diversity on the Arthropod Community Associated with Big‐leaf Mahogany

et al. 2015

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Despite potential interactive effects of plant species and genotypic diversity (SD and GD, respectively) on consumers, studies have usually examined these effects separately. We evaluated the individual and combined effects of tree SD and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) GD on the arthropod community associated with mahogany. We conducted this study within the context of a tree diversity experiment consisting of 74 plots with 64 saplings/plot. We sampled 24 of these plots, classified as monocultures of mahogany or polycultures of four species (including mahogany). Within each plot type, mahogany was represented by either one or four maternal families. We surveyed arthropods on mahogany and estimated total arthropod abundance and species richness, as well as abundance and richness separately for herbivorous and predatory arthropods. Overall tree SD and mahogany GD had positive effects on total arthropod species richness and abundance on mahogany, and also exerted interactive effects on total species richness (but not abundance). Analyses conducted by trophic level group showed contrasting patterns; SD positively influenced herbivore species richness but not abundance, and did not affect either predator richness or abundance. GD influenced predator species richness but not abundance, and did not influence herbivore abundance or richness. There were interactive effects of GD and SD only for predator species richness. These results provide evidence that intra‐ and inter‐specific plant diversity exert interactive controls on associated consumer communities, and that the relative importance of SD and GD may vary among higher trophic levels, presumably due to differences in the underlying mechanisms or consumer traits.

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“…; Abdala‐Roberts et al. ). Here, we explore how secondary metabolites change across even shorter timescales, specifically across weeks during the development of a single leaf.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Research based on the framework of an arms race has improved our understanding about the patterns of defense investment and the selective pressures that have led to the variety of defensive strategies across species. However, defenses are not static, as plants are under different regimes of selective pressures during their lifetimes (Karban and Baldwin 1997;Agrawal and Karban 1999;Brenes-Arguedas and Coley 2005;Boege and Marquis 2006;Brenes-Arguedas et al 2008; Barton and Koricheva 2010;Koricheva and Barton 2012;Karolewski et al 2013;Abdala-Roberts et al 2014). Here, we explore how secondary metabolites change across even shorter timescales, specifically across weeks during the development of a single leaf.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative and qualitative shifts in defensive metabolites define chemical defense investment during leaf development inInga, a genus of tropical trees

Wiggins

Forrister

Endara

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Selective pressures imposed by herbivores are often positively correlated with investments that plants make in defense. Research based on the framework of an evolutionary arms race has improved our understanding of why the amount and types of defenses differ between plant species. However, plant species are exposed to different selective pressures during the life of a leaf, such that expanding leaves suffer more damage from herbivores and pathogens than mature leaves. We hypothesize that this differential selective pressure may result in contrasting quantitative and qualitative defense investment in plants exposed to natural selective pressures in the field. To characterize shifts in chemical defenses, we chose six species of Inga, a speciose Neotropical tree genus. Focal species represent diverse chemical, morphological, and developmental defense traits and were collected from a single site in the Amazonian rainforest. Chemical defenses were measured gravimetrically and by characterizing the metabolome of expanding and mature leaves. Quantitative investment in phenolics plus saponins, the major classes of chemical defenses identified in Inga, was greater for expanding than mature leaves (46% and 24% of dry weight, respectively). This supports the theory that, because expanding leaves are under greater selective pressure from herbivores, they rely more upon chemical defense as an antiherbivore strategy than do mature leaves. Qualitatively, mature and expanding leaves were distinct and mature leaves contained more total and unique metabolites. Intraspecific variation was greater for mature leaves than expanding leaves, suggesting that leaf development is canalized. This study provides a snapshot of chemical defense investment in a speciose genus of tropical trees during the short, few‐week period of leaf development. Exploring the metabolome through quantitative and qualitative profiling enables a more comprehensive examination of foliar chemical defense investment.

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Light Availability Influences Growth‐Defense Trade‐Offs in Big‐Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King)

Cited by 16 publications

References 36 publications

Test of biotic and abiotic correlates of latitudinal variation in defences in the perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora

Test of biotic and abiotic correlates of latitudinal variation in defences in the perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora

Effects of Tree Genotypic Diversity and Species Diversity on the Arthropod Community Associated with Big‐leaf Mahogany

Quantitative and qualitative shifts in defensive metabolites define chemical defense investment during leaf development inInga, a genus of tropical trees

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