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Finnerty PB, Possell M, Banks PB, Orlando CG, Price CJ, Shrader AM, McArthur C. Olfactory misinformation provides refuge to palatable plants from mammalian browsing. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:645-650. [PMID: 38307993 PMCID: PMC11009103 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02330-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian herbivores browse palatable plants of ecological and economical value. Undesirable neighbours can reduce browsing to these plants by providing 'associational refuge', but they can also compete for resources. Here we recreated the informative odour emitted by undesirable plants. We then tested whether this odour could act as virtual neighbours, providing browsing refuge to palatable eucalyptus tree seedlings. We found that protection using this method was equivalent to protection provided by real plants. Palatable seedlings were 17-20 times more likely to be eaten by herbivores without virtual, or real, neighbours. Because many herbivores use plant odour to forage, virtual neighbours could provide a useful practical management approach to help protect valued plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Finnerty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Malcolm Possell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Catherine J Price
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian M Shrader
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Erfanian MB, Memariani F, Atashgahi Z, Mesdaghi M, Saeedi M, Darrudi M, Hamedian M, Hosseini S, Ejtehadi H. Unpalatable plants induce a species-specific associational effect on neighboring communities. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14380. [PMID: 34257345 PMCID: PMC8277879 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93698-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In grazing conditions, unpalatable species may induce either associational defense or neighbor contrast susceptibility in neighboring communities. Using surveys from eight grasslands, we tested whether various unpalatable species have the same impacts on neighboring communities in response to grazing. The studied unpalatable species were: Phlomis cancellata (an unpalatable nonpoisonous plant), Euphorbia boissieriana, E. microsciadia (poisonous plants), and Seseli transcaucasicum (a highly poisonous plant). Our results showed that, in the ungrazed grasslands, communities containing P. cancellata had lower biodiversity than communities without it. In the moderately- and heavily grazed grasslands, P. cancellata induced associational defense in the neighboring communities. In heavily grazed grasslands, both Euphorbia species promoted neighbor contrast susceptibility in the neighboring communities. Similarly, S. transcaucasicum in a heavily grazed grassland, induced neighbor contrast susceptibility. Different responses of plant community vulnerability among the studied unpalatable plants might be due to herbivore different foraging decisions. Accordingly, grazers selectively choose from other patches when facing P. cancellata and other plant individuals when there is a poisonous plant in a patch. Our results suggested that grazing intensity may not substantially affect the foraging decisions of sheep and goats in response to unpalatable species. We recommend monitoring the abundance of poisonous species to maintain the sustainable use of grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Bagher Erfanian
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farshid Memariani
- Herbarium FUMH, Department of Botany, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Zohreh Atashgahi
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mansour Mesdaghi
- Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maliheh Saeedi
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Darrudi
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maliheh Hamedian
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeede Hosseini
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Ejtehadi
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran.
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Huang Y, Wang L, Wang D, Zeng DH, Li Y, Liu J, Wang Y. Foraging responses of sheep to plant spatial micro-patterns can cause diverse associational effects of focal plant at individual and population levels. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:863-873. [PMID: 29430651 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Multiple-scale foraging decisions by large herbivores can cause associational effects of focal plant individuals neighboured with different species. Spatial micro-patterns between the focal plant and its neighbouring species within patches can affect herbivore foraging selectivity at within- and between-patch scales, which may consequently lead to associational plant effects occurring at both plant individual and population levels. However, these associational effects have not been explored together in the plant-herbivore interaction studies. We aim to evaluate how plant spatial micro-pattern within different quality patches mediate herbivore foraging selectivity, thereby affecting the associational effects of focal plant individuals and population. Using sheep as the model herbivore and a medium preferred species as the focal plant, we conducted a manipulative experiment by allowing sheep grazing freely among three different quality patches, each of which consisted of preferred, unpreferred and focal plant species with different abundances forming spatially aggregated or dispersed micro-patterns. Results showed that, compared with the aggregated plant micro-pattern, dispersed plant micro-patterns within different quality patches increased sheep within-patch selectivity, and caused diverse associational effects of focal plant individuals. Focal plant individuals experienced neighbour contrast defence (i.e. got protection in the high quality patch) and associational defence (i.e. got protection in the low quality patch), respectively, when plants distributed dispersedly in the low and high quality patch. Focal plant individuals simultaneously experienced associational susceptibility (i.e. got damage in the high quality patch) and neighbour contrast susceptibility (i.e. got damage in the low quality patch) when plants distributed dispersedly in the medium quality patch. Furthermore, dispersed plant micro-patterns reduced sheep foraging selectivity between patches, and led to a lower consumption of focal plant population compared with the aggregated plant micro-pattern. Herbivores adopt different within- and between-patch foraging decisions to maintain a high intake of the preferred species in response to various plant micro-patterns, and consequently cause diverse associational effects of both focal plant individuals and population. These associational effects have important implications for understanding the species coexistence and plant community assembly in the grazing ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Huang
- Key Laboratory of Forest and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - Deli Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - De-Hui Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Forest and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Yexing Li
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - Jun Liu
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Wang
- College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
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Finnerty PB, Stutz RS, Price CJ, Banks PB, McArthur C. Leaf odour cues enable non‐random foraging by mammalian herbivores. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:1317-1328. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B. Finnerty
- School of Life & Environmental SciencesThe University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Rebecca S. Stutz
- School of Life & Environmental SciencesThe University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- Department of ZoologyStockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Catherine J. Price
- School of Life & Environmental SciencesThe University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Life & Environmental SciencesThe University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life & Environmental SciencesThe University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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Hahn PG, Orrock JL. Neighbor palatability generates associational effects by altering herbivore foraging behavior. Ecology 2016; 97:2103-2111. [PMID: 27859184 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip G. Hahn
- Department of Zoology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | - John L. Orrock
- Department of Zoology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
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Stutz RS, Croak BM, Proschogo N, Banks PB, McArthur C. Olfactory and visual plant cues as drivers of selective herbivory. OIKOS 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Stutz
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown New South Wales 2006 Australia
- Dept of Zoology; Stockholm Univ.; SE-106 91 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Benjamin M. Croak
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Nicholas Proschogo
- School of Chemistry; Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown New South Wales 2006 Australia
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Huang Y, Wang L, Wang D, Zeng DH, Liu C. How does the foraging behavior of large herbivores cause different associational plant defenses? Sci Rep 2016; 6:20561. [PMID: 26847834 PMCID: PMC4742796 DOI: 10.1038/srep20561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The attractant-decoy hypothesis predicts that focal plants can defend against herbivory by neighboring with preferred plant species when herbivores make decisions at the plant species scale. The repellent-plant hypothesis assumes that focal plants will gain protection by associating with nonpreferred neighbors when herbivores are selective at the patch scale. However, herbivores usually make foraging decisions at these scales simultaneously. The net outcomes of the focal plant vulnerability could depend on the spatial scale at which the magnitude of selectivity by the herbivores is stronger. We quantified and compared the within- and between-patch overall selectivity index (OSI) of sheep to examine the relationships between associational plant effects and herbivore foraging selectivity. We found that the sheep OSI was stronger at the within- than the between-patch scale, but focal plant vulnerability followed both hypotheses. Focal plants defended herbivory with preferred neighbors when the OSI difference between the two scales was large. Focal plants gained protection with nonpreferred neighbors when the OSI difference was narrowed. Therefore, the difference in selectivity by the herbivores between the relevant scales results in different associational plant defenses. Our study suggests important implications for understanding plant-herbivore interactions and grassland management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Huang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, 5268 Renmin St., Changchun 130024, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, 5268 Renmin St., Changchun 130024, P.R. China
| | - Deli Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, 5268 Renmin St., Changchun 130024, P.R. China
| | - De-Hui Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China
| | - Chen Liu
- Northwest Polytechnical University, Centre for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an, 710072, P.R. China
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Stutz RS, Banks PB, Dexter N, McArthur C. Herbivore search behaviour drives associational plant refuge. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2015.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Zhang S, Zhang Y, Ma K. Mixed effects of ant–aphid mutualism on plants across different spatial scales. Basic Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Rolán-Alvarez E, Carvajal-Rodríguez A, de Coo A, Cortés B, Estévez D, Ferreira M, González R, Briscoe AD. The scale-of-choice effect and how estimates of assortative mating in the wild can be biased due to heterogeneous samples. Evolution 2015; 69:1845-57. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Rolán-Alvarez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of California; Irvine California 92697
| | - Antonio Carvajal-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Alicia de Coo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Beatriz Cortés
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Daniel Estévez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Mar Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Rubén González
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Xenética e Inmunoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía; Universidad de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Adriana D. Briscoe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of California; Irvine California 92697
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Ginane C, Manuelian CL, Dumont B. Sheep herbivory within grassland patches: The potential cost of food item discrimination. Basic Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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Stutz RS, Banks PB, Dexter N, McArthur C. Associational refuge in practice: can existing vegetation facilitate woodland restoration? OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Stutz
- School of Biological Sciences, The Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown, New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Biological Sciences, The Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown, New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Nicholas Dexter
- Booderee National Park; Village Road, Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay Territory 2540 Australia
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Biological Sciences, The Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown, New South Wales 2006 Australia
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Laidlaw CT, Condon JM, Belk MC. Viability costs of reproduction and behavioral compensation in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). PLoS One 2014; 9:e110524. [PMID: 25365426 PMCID: PMC4217728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that current reproduction has inherent tradeoffs with future reproduction. These tradeoffs can be both in the form of energy allocated to current offspring as opposed to somatic maintenance and future reproduction (allocation costs), or as an increase in mortality as a result of morphological or physiological changes related to reproduction (viability costs). Individuals may be able to decrease viability costs by altering behavior. Female western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis experience a reduction in swimming ability as a consequence of pregnancy. We test for a viability cost of reproduction, and for behavioral compensation in pregnant female G. affinis by measuring survival of females in early and later stages of pregnancy when exposed to predation. Late-stage pregnant females experience a 70% greater probability of mortality compared to early-stage pregnant females. The presence of a refuge roughly doubled the odds of survival of both early and late-stage pregnant females. However, there was no interaction between refuge availability and stage of pregnancy. These data do not provide evidence for behavioral compensation by female G. affinis for elevated viability costs incurred during later stages of pregnancy. Behavioral compensation may be constrained by other aspects of the cost of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton T. Laidlaw
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jacob M. Condon
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Mark C. Belk
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
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Nersesian CL, Banks PB, McArthur C. Influences of Plant Toxins and Their Spatial Distribution on Foraging by the Common Brushtail Possum, a Generalist Mammalian Herbivore. J Chem Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0218-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Adrian JAL, Arancon NQ, Mathews BW, Carpenter JR. Proximate analysis, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and energy content of common guava (Psidium guajava L.) and yellow, strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum Var. lucidum) tree parts and fruits as potential forage. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2012; 60:10398-10405. [PMID: 23057786 DOI: 10.1021/jf303617p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The nutrient composition of common guava, Psidium guajava L., and strawberry guava (waiwi), Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum, tree parts and fruits was determined during three seasons for six locations in Hawaii to assess guava as a potential feed for cattle. All guava plant parts were higher (p < 0.001) in crude protein than waiwi, but there were no differences in the fiber and energy densities for bark, shoots, and branches. Guava leaves were higher in fiber and had lower energy densities (p < 0.05) than waiwi. Ripe and breaker stage fruits were lower (p < 0.05) in fiber, similar in protein (CP), and higher (p < 0.05) in energy density than immature fruits. Guava fruits were higher in CP (p < 0.05) and organic matter (p < 0.001) and lower in ash (p < 0.001) than waiwi fruits. The primary nutritional concern with guava is low in vitro organic matter digestibility as compared to tropical forage grasses; therefore, it is not recommended as a feedstock for livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ann Luiz Adrian
- College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA.
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Ostoja SM, Schupp EW, Klinger R. Seed harvesting by a generalist consumer is context-dependent: Interactive effects across multiple spatial scales. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.19969.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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17
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Nersesian CL, Banks PB, Simpson SJ, McArthur C. Mixing nutrients mitigates the intake constraints of a plant toxin in a generalist herbivore. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Wang L, Wang D, Bai Y, Huang Y, Fan M, Liu J, Li Y. Spatially complex neighboring relationships among grassland plant species as an effective mechanism of defense against herbivory. Oecologia 2010; 164:193-200. [PMID: 20552227 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1676-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2010] [Accepted: 05/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Close spatial relationships between plant species are often important for defense against herbivory. The associational plant defense may have important implications for plant community structure, species diversity, and species coexistence. An increasing number of studies have focused on associational plant defense against herbivory at the scale of the individual plant and its nearest neighbors. However, the average neighborhood effects between plant species at the scale of whole plant communities have received almost no attention. The aims of this study were to determine patterns of spatial relationship between different plant species that can provide effective defense against herbivory. We conducted a manipulative experiment using sheep and three native plant species with different palatability. Consumption of palatable plants by herbivores was largest when the three plant species were isolated in three patches and independent of each other. A homogenous and spatially equal neighbor relationship between the three species did not reduce the risk of herbivory of palatable species compared to isolation of these species, but it reduced the total intake of all plant species. The palatable species was subject to less herbivory in a complex spatial neighborhood of several plant species. High complexity of spatial neighborhood resulted in herbivores passively reducing selectivity, thereby reducing the probability of damage to palatable species in the community, or making inaccurate judgments in foraging selectivity between and within patches, thereby reducing the vulnerability of palatable plants and even the whole plant community. We conclude that compelling herbivores to passively reduce the magnitude of foraging selectivity by establishing spatially complex neighborhoods between plant species is a compromise and optimal spatial strategy by plants to defend themselves again herbivory. This may contribute not only to maintenance of plant species diversity but also to a stable coexistence between herbivores and plants in grassland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, People's Republic of China
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