Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Plant-herbivore interactions are fundamental to ecosystems but exhibit significant variability.
• This variability is hypothesized to impact ecological stability and plant defense evolution.
• Current understanding is limited by sparse data on factors influencing interaction variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the drivers of within-population variability in herbivory across broad spatial scales.
• To determine how latitude, plant size, and phylogeny influence herbivory variability.
• To advance the understanding of macroecological patterns in plant-herbivore interactions.

Main Methods:

• Standardized surveys of herbivory were conducted.
• Data were collected for 503 plant species across 790 sites.
• Analysis spanned 116° of latitude to assess macroscale gradients.

Main Results:

• Within-population herbivory variability was found to increase with increasing latitude.
• Herbivory variability decreased with increasing plant size.
• Phylogenetic structure was identified as a significant factor influencing herbivory variability.

Conclusions:

• Macroscale gradients, including latitude and plant size, significantly shape plant-herbivore interaction variability.
• Phylogenetic relatedness plays a role in the patterns of herbivory variability.
• A greater focus on interaction variability is crucial for understanding global biodiversity patterns.