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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The geographical and seasonal mosaic in a plant-herbivore interaction: patterns of defences and herbivory by a specialist and a non-specialist

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Author(s):
Vercosa, Diomar [1, 2] ; Cogni, Rodrigo [3] ; Alves, Marcos Nopper [4] ; Trigo, Jose Roberto [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Lab Chem Ecol, Dept Anim Biol, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Postgrad Program Plant Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Agrotechnol, Lab Plant Tissue Culture, Ctr Biol & Agr Chem, Campinas, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 9, OCT 23 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

In order to evaluate the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution, it is crucial to investigate geographical variation on the outcome of ecological interactions and the functional traits which dictate these outcomes. Plant populations are attacked by specialist and non-specialist herbivores and may have different types of chemical and biotic defences. We investigated geographical and seasonal variation in the interaction between the plant Crotalaria pallida and its two major herbivores (the specialist Utetheisa ornatrix and the non-specialist Etiella zinckenella). We first showed that attack by the two herbivores and a chemical and a biotic defence vary greatly in time and space. Second, we performed a common garden experiment that revealed genetic variation among populations in herbivore resistance and a chemical defence, but no genetic variation in a biotic defence. Third, we sampled 20 populations on a much larger geographical scale and showed great variation in attack rates by the two herbivores and a chemical defence. Finally, we showed that herbivory is not correlated with a chemical defence in the 20 field populations. Our study shows that to understand the evolution of ecological interactions it is crucial to investigate how the outcome of the interaction and the important species traits vary geographically and seasonally. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/17708-0 - Chemical defense in plants and insects in neotropical environments
Grantee:Jose Roberto Trigo
Support type: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 13/25991-0 - Ecological genomics of insects: climate adaptations and evolution of ecological interactions
Grantee:Rodrigo Cogni
Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants