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Mohanbabu N, Veldhuis MP, Jung D, Ritchie ME. Integrating defense and leaf economic spectrum traits in a tropical savanna plant. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1185616. [PMID: 37342149 PMCID: PMC10277734 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1185616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Allocation to plant defense traits likely depends on resource supply, herbivory, and other plant functional traits such as the leaf economic spectrum (LES) traits. Yet, attempts to integrate defense and resource acquisitive traits remain elusive. Methods We assessed intraspecific covariation between different defense and LES traits in a widely distributed tropical savanna herb, Solanum incanum, a unique model species for studying allocations to physical, chemical, and structural defenses to mammalian herbivory. Results We found that in a multivariate trait space, the structural defenses - lignin and cellulose - were positively related to the resource conservative traits - low SLA and low leaf N. Phenolic content, a chemical defense, was positively associated with resource acquisitive traits - high SLA and high leaf N - while also being associated with an independent third component axis. Both principal components 1 and 3 were not associated with resource supply and herbivory intensity. In contrast, spine density - a physical defense - was orthogonal to the LES axis and positively associated with soil P and herbivory intensity. Discussion These results suggest a hypothesized "pyramid" of trade-offs in allocation to defense along the LES and herbivory intensity axes. Therefore, future attempts to integrate defense traits with the broader plant functional trait framework, such as the LES, needs a multifaceted approach that accounts for unique influences of resource acquisitive traits and herbivory risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Mohanbabu
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Michiel P. Veldhuis
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dana Jung
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Mark E. Ritchie
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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Dobson A, Hopcraft G, Mduma S, Ogutu JO, Fryxell J, Anderson TM, Archibald S, Lehmann C, Poole J, Caro T, Mulder MB, Holt RD, Berger J, Rubenstein DI, Kahumbu P, Chidumayo EN, Milner-Gulland EJ, Schluter D, Otto S, Balmford A, Wilcove D, Pimm S, Veldman JW, Olff H, Noss R, Holdo R, Beale C, Hempson G, Kiwango Y, Lindenmayer D, Bond W, Ritchie M, Sinclair ARE. Savannas are vital but overlooked carbon sinks. Science 2022; 375:392. [PMID: 35084954 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn4482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andy Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Simon Mduma
- Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania
| | | | - John Fryxell
- University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Sally Archibald
- University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
| | - Caroline Lehmann
- Tropical Diversity, Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh EH35LR, UK.,School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH93FF, UK
| | - Joyce Poole
- ElephantVoices, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
| | - Tim Caro
- University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
| | | | | | - Joel Berger
- Colorado State University, and Wildlife Conservation Society, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Daniel I Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dolph Schluter
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sarah Otto
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - David Wilcove
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Joseph W Veldman
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Han Olff
- University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Reed Noss
- Florida Institute for Conservation Science, Oviedo, FL 32766, USA
| | | | - Colin Beale
- University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Gareth Hempson
- University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
| | | | | | - William Bond
- University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
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Penner JF, Frank DA. Density-dependent plant growth drives grazer stimulation of aboveground net primary production in Yellowstone grasslands. Oecologia 2021; 196:851-861. [PMID: 34117517 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04960-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which grazing animals influence aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in grasslands have long been an area of active research. The prevailing wisdom is that grazing can increase ANPP by increasing the availability of growth-limiting resources such as nitrogen and water, but recent theory suggests that the density-dependent growth of grassland vegetation can lead to grazer-stimulation of ANPP simply by removing shoot biomass and increasing relative growth rate (RGR). We compared the relative roles of resource availability and density-dependent growth in driving positive responses of ANPP to grazing in Yellowstone National Park. We measured the effects of clipping (50% simulated grazing intensity) and natural grazing on soil nitrogen availability, soil moisture, and shoot growth over 2 months in two grassland plant communities (mesic and dry) grazed primarily by bison. Clipping increased RGR by over 100% in both grassland types but had no effect on N availability or soil moisture during the same growth periods. Clipping stimulated ANPP only at mesic grassland, and the magnitude of this effect was strongly related to the initial plant biomass at the time of clipping relative to estimated peak biomass, supporting the density-dependent framework. Bison grazing had qualitatively similar effects on ANPP and RGR to clipping with no accompanying effects on N availability or soil moisture. Our results show how grazing can stimulate ANPP independent of a direct influence on resource availability simply by exploiting the dynamics of density-dependent plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob F Penner
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Douglas A Frank
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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