Host-plant sex and phenology of Buddleja cordata Kunth interact to influence arthropod communities.

ABSTRACT: Intraspecific variation in plants is expected to have profound impacts on the arthropod communities associated with them. Because sexual dimorphism in plants is expected to provide consistent variation among individuals of the same species, researchers have often studied the effect it has on associated arthropods. Nevertheless, most studies have focused on the effect of sexual dimorphism in a single or a few herbivores, thus overlooking the potential effects on the whole arthropod community. Our main objective was to evaluate effects of Buddleja cordata's plant-sex on its associated arthropod community. We surveyed 13 pairs of male and female plants every 2 months during a year (June 2010 to April 2011). Every sampling date, we measured plant traits (water content and leaf thickness

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Ramirez I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11183185 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature