A case of long-term herbivory: specialized feeding trace on Parrotia (Hamamelidaceae) plant species.

ABSTRACT: Interactions between plants and insects evolved during millions of years of coevolution and maintain the trophic balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Documenting insect damage types (DT) on fossil leaves is essential for understanding the evolution of plant-insect interactions and for understanding the effects of major environmental changes on ecosystem structure. However, research focusing on palaeoherbivory is still sparse and only a tiny fraction of fossil leaf collections have been analysed. This study documents a type of insect damage found exclusively on the leaves of Parrotia species (Hamamelidaceae). This DT was identified on Parrotia leaves from Willershausen (Germany, Pliocene) and from Shanwang (China, Miocene) and on their respective endemic modern relatives: Par

SUBMITTER: Adroit B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7657907 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature