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Abstract Detail



Ecological Section

Barrios, Beyte [1], Valdes, Imena [2], Koptur, Suzanne [3].

The Effects of Herbivory Damage on Growth and Reproduction of Angadenia berteroi.

Herbivores have large direct or indirect effects on plant fitness, as herbivory damage to both vegetative and reproductive tissues can negatively influence the reproductive success of the plant. A plant’s response to herbivore damage may be determined by its ability to compensate and depends on the intensity and frequency of the damage, the types of structures damaged, and at what plant developmental stage the damage is experienced. Angadenia berteroi is a tropical perennial subshrub native to the pine rockland habitat in southern Florida. Syntomeida epilais (the oleander moth caterpillar) is the primary herbivore of A. berteroi, with caterpillars often consuming all the foliage and flowers of a plant. We performed artificial defoliation with scissors on plants growing in the greenhouse to assess the effects of defoliation pre-flowering on growth and reproductive fitness. Angadenia berteroi is capable of tolerating moderate levels of artificial damage (50% of the leaves removed) with no detriment to growth, leaf, or flower production. But severe damage (artificial defoliation of 100% of the leaf area) negatively affects growth and reproductive success, with a reduction in growth and production of leaves and flowers during the subsequent few months. Severely damaged plants are able to compensate in terms of biomass four months after defoliation. Our results suggest that A. berteroi compensates for leaf tissue lost to severe damage by allocating resources to production and maintenance of new vegetative tissues, which in turn provide photosynthates for flower production. The same response that allows these fire-adapted pine rockland perennials to regrow after fire may permit recovery from severe herbivory events.


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1 - Florida International University, Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
2 - Florida International University, Biological Sciences and AgroEcology Program, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
3 - Florida International University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

Keywords:
artificial damage
compensation
leaf herbivory
folivory
plant fitness.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC018
Abstract ID:1375
Candidate for Awards:Ecological Section Best Graduate Student Poster,Ecological Section Best Undergraduate Presentation Award


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