Olfactory misinformation provides refuge to palatable plants from mammalian browsing

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Plant-herbivore interactions
• Chemical ecology

Background:

• Mammalian herbivores consume plants of ecological and economic importance.
• Undesirable plants can offer palatable species 'associational refuge' from herbivores by masking their scent, but also compete for resources.
• Plant-derived olfactory cues are crucial for many herbivores in locating food sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the odor of undesirable plants can act as 'virtual neighbors' to protect palatable eucalyptus seedlings from mammalian herbivores.
• To compare the effectiveness of olfactory cues (virtual neighbors) with physical presence (real neighbors) in providing protection.

Main Methods:

• Recreating the informative odor emitted by undesirable neighboring plants.
• Exposing palatable eucalyptus seedlings to these recreated odors in an experimental setting.
• Comparing herbivore browsing rates on seedlings with and without virtual neighbors, and with real neighbors.

Main Results:

• Protection conferred by virtual neighbors was comparable to that provided by real plants.
• Palatable eucalyptus seedlings were 17-20 times more likely to be consumed by herbivores in the absence of virtual or real neighbors.
• Herbivore foraging behavior is significantly influenced by plant-derived olfactory cues.

Conclusions:

• Plant odor can effectively serve as a deterrent, creating a 'virtual' associational refuge for palatable plants.
• This 'virtual neighbor' strategy offers a practical, non-invasive management tool for protecting valuable plant species from herbivory.
• Leveraging olfactory cues presents a novel approach for ecological management and conservation efforts.