| Title: | Compound Specific Trends of Chemical Defences in Ficus Along an Elevational Gradient Reflect a Complex Selective Landscape |
| Author(s): | Volf M; Laitila JE; Kim J; Sam L; Sam K; Isua B; Sisol M; Wardhaugh CW; Vejmelka F; Miller SE; Weiblen GD; Salminen JP; Novotny V; Segar ST; |
| Address: | "Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. volf@entu.cas.cz. Molecular Interaction Ecology Group, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. volf@entu.cas.cz. Natural Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20500, Turku, Finland. Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, Queensland, Australia. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice, 37005, Czech Republic. The New Guinea Binatang Research Center, P.O. Box 604, Madang, Papua New Guinea. Scion, The New Zealand Forest Research Institute, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, New Zealand. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA. Bell Museum, Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA. Department of Crop and Environment Sciences, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-020-01173-7 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Elevational gradients affect the production of plant secondary metabolites through changes in both biotic and abiotic conditions. Previous studies have suggested both elevational increases and decreases in host-plant chemical defences. We analysed the correlation of alkaloids and polyphenols with elevation in a community of nine Ficus species along a continuously forested elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We sampled 204 insect species feeding on the leaves of these hosts and correlated their community structure to the focal compounds. Additionally, we explored species richness of folivorous mammals along the gradient. When we accounted for Ficus species identity, we found a general elevational increase in flavonoids and alkaloids. Elevational trends in non-flavonol polyphenols were less pronounced or showed non-linear correlations with elevation. Polyphenols responded more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than alkaloids. The abundance of insect herbivores decreased with elevation, while the species richness of folivorous mammals showed an elevational increase. Insect community structure was affected mainly by alkaloid concentration and diversity. Although our results show an elevational increase in several groups of metabolites, the drivers behind these trends likely differ. Flavonoids may provide figs with protection against abiotic stressors. In contrast, alkaloids affect insect herbivores and may provide protection against mammalian herbivores and pathogens. Concurrent analysis of multiple compound groups alongside ecological data is an important approach for understanding the selective landscape that shapes plant defences" |
| Keywords: | Alkaloids/*metabolism *Altitude Animals Biota Ficus/*chemistry Flavonoids/*metabolism *Food Chain *Herbivory Insecta/physiology Mammals/physiology Papua New Guinea Pheromones/*analysis Plant Leaves/chemistry Coleoptera Folivorous mammals Herbivory Lepidop; |
| Notes: | "MedlineVolf, Martin Laitila, Juuso E Kim, Jorma Sam, Legi Sam, Katerina Isua, Brus Sisol, Mentap Wardhaugh, Carl W Vejmelka, Frantisek Miller, Scott E Weiblen, George D Salminen, Juha-Pekka Novotny, Vojtech Segar, Simon T eng BABE 805189/European Research Council ()/ Ref.3.3-CZE-1192673-HFST-P/Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung/ MSM200962004/Akademie Ved Ceske Republiky/ 20-10543Y/Grantova Agentura Ceske Republiky (CZ)/ GAJU 048/2019/P/Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia/ 258992/Academy of Finland/ 17-23862S/Grantova Agentura Ceske Republiky/ 19-28126X/Grantova Agentura Ceske Republiky/ CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0006/European Social Fund/ 15-24571S/Grantova Agentura Ceske Republiky/ 669609/ERC_/European Research Council/International 2020/04/22 J Chem Ecol. 2020 Apr; 46(4):442-454. doi: 10.1007/s10886-020-01173-7. Epub 2020 Apr 21" |
