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Leaf herbivory and nutrients increase nectar alkaloids.
Lynn S Adler1, Michael Wink, Melanie Distl
1Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences and Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. lsadler@ent.umass.edu
Ecology Letters
|August 18, 2006
Summary
Plant nectar and leaf chemical defenses are linked, with herbivory affecting nectar alkaloids. This suggests plant interactions involving different tissues are interconnected, impacting ecology and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Plant Ecology
- Chemical Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Plant defenses in nectar and leaves can influence interactions with pollinators and herbivores.
- The relationship between nectar and leaf chemical defenses remains largely unexplored.
- Plant trait correlations can constrain ecological and evolutionary responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of nutrients and leaf herbivory on nectar and leaf alkaloids in *Nicotiana tabacum*.
- To determine how these factors influence floral traits and moth oviposition.
- To explore the link between leaf herbivory and nectar chemical defenses.
Main Methods:
- Quantified nectar and leaf alkaloids in *Nicotiana tabacum* under varying nutrient and herbivory conditions.
- Assessed floral traits and *Manduca sexta* moth oviposition preferences.
- Analyzed phenotypic correlations between nectar and leaf alkaloid levels.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between nectar and leaf alkaloids.
- Leaf herbivory induced alkaloids in nectar, but not in leaves.
- Nutrients increased alkaloid levels in both tissues.
- Moths preferred to lay eggs on damaged, fertilized plants, indicating a preference for high alkaloid content.
Conclusions:
- Leaf herbivory and nutrient availability significantly impact plant chemical defenses in both leaves and nectar.
- Induced nectar alkaloids linked to leaf herbivory demonstrate interconnectedness between plant tissues.
- Plant defense strategies involving multiple tissues should be considered holistically in ecological and evolutionary studies.