Acorn Crop, Seed Size and Chemical Defenses Determine the Performance of Specialized Insect Predators and Reproductive Output in a Mediterranean Oak.

ABSTRACT: Seed predation is an antagonistic interaction that negatively affects the performance of individual plants and can limit plant population dynamics. In animal-dispersed plants, crop size is an important determinant of plant reproductive success through its effect on seed dispersers and predators. Seed traits, such as size or chemical composition, can also increase the tolerance to seed predators or reduce their performance. We investigated the interaction between Quercus faginea and two specialized pre-dispersal insect seed predators (weevils and moths) during two years of contrasting crop size to determine the consequences of oak reproductive investment on seed production and insect performance. Crop size was 44% lower and acorns were 32% smaller in the second year, although acorn predatio

SUBMITTER: Mezquida ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8396859 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature