Floral plasticity: Herbivore-species-specific-induced changes in flower traits with contrasting effects on pollinator visitation.

ABSTRACT: Plant phenotypic plasticity in response to antagonists can affect other community members such as mutualists, conferring potential ecological costs associated with inducible plant defence. For flowering plants, induction of defences to deal with herbivores can lead to disruption of plant-pollinator interactions. Current knowledge on the full extent of herbivore-induced changes in flower traits is limited, and we know little about specificity of induction of flower traits and specificity of effect on flower visitors. We exposed flowering Brassica nigra plants to six insect herbivore species and recorded changes in flower traits (flower abundance, morphology, colour, volatile emission, nectar quantity, and pollen quantity and size) and the behaviour of two pollinating insects. Our results sh

SUBMITTER: Rusman Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6850075 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature