High herbivore pressure favors constitutive over induced defense.

ABSTRACT:

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Theoretical and empirical studies show that, when past or current herbivory is a reliable cue of future attack and defenses are costly, defenses can be induced only when needed and thereby permit investment in other functions such as growth or reproduction. Theory also states that, in environments where herbivory is constantly high, constitutive defenses should be favored. Here, we present data to support the second aspect of the induced resistance hypothesis. We examined herbivore-induced responses for four species of Inga (Fabaceae), a common canopy tree in Neotropical forests. We quantified chemical defenses of expanding leaves, including phenolic, saponin and toxic amino acids, in experimental field treatments with and without caterpillars. Because young leaves lack

SUBMITTER: Bixenmann RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5016630 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature