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Related Concept Videos

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Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
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Taxonomy is the science of defining and naming groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. It uses a hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories with Latin names. The smallest units of taxonomy, species and genus, are used to assign a formal, taxonomic name to each species in a system. This classification system, referred to as binomial nomenclature, was formalized by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century.
Hierarchy of Taxonomy
The hierarchy that Carolus Linnaeus first...
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Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores02:26

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Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
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All organisms in an ecosystem occupy a trophic level in the food chain. The lowest level consists of primary producers, which synthesize their food from either solar or chemical energy. Each subsequent level obtains energy from the levels below. Detritivores can occupy any of the levels above primary producers.
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Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

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Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
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Phylogenetic trees come in many forms. It matters in which sequence the organisms are arranged from the bottom to the top of the tree, but the branches can rotate at their nodes without altering the information. The lines connecting individual nodes can be straight, angled, or even curved.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
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When is a herbivore not a herbivore?

T C R White1

  • 1School of Applied Science, Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia.

Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Young herbivores require animal or microbial protein for survival and growth, as plant-based diets are insufficient. Adult herbivores also need supplemental nitrogen from microorganisms for essential life functions.

Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Animal Nutrition
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Herbivores are commonly perceived as plant-eaters.
  • However, the nutritional requirements of young herbivores challenge this definition.
  • Nitrogen availability in plant matter is a critical limiting factor for animal life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dietary protein requirements of young herbivores.
  • To understand the role of animal or microbial protein in herbivore development.
  • To examine nitrogen acquisition strategies in adult herbivores.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of herbivore dietary needs.
  • Observation of growth and survival rates based on protein sources.
  • Assessment of nitrogen metabolism in herbivore digestive systems.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
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Main Results:

  • Young herbivores cannot thrive solely on plant matter; they require animal or microbial protein for growth.
  • Plant-based food sources are notably deficient in available nitrogen.
  • Adult herbivores exhibit selective feeding behaviors and rely on gut microbes for nitrogen.

Conclusions:

  • The classification of 'herbivore' requires re-evaluation, particularly for juvenile stages.
  • Microbial symbiosis and supplemental protein are crucial for herbivore nitrogen balance.
  • Understanding these nutritional dependencies is key to herbivore conservation and ecology.