Plant toxins and parasitoid trophic ecology

Parasitoids (parasitic wasps) are ubiquitous components of nearly all communities containing plant-insect herbivore associations. Plant toxin defenses against herbivores may also affect higher trophic levels by directly (e.g., plant toxins encountered in host hemolymph) or indirectly (e.g., plant toxins reduce host size/quality or alter the host's immunity against parasitoids). Yet, whether parasitoids structure plant-herbivore interactions remains relatively understudied. Nevertheless, recent meta-analyses and empirical work emphasize the importance of parasitoids in structuring interactions among lower trophic levels. Two promising areas of research are particularly ripe for future exploration: a) the potential for microbes to alter the interactions among plants, insect herbivores, and parasitoids, and b) the effects of climate change on phenological (mis)matches among trophic levels.