Title: | Induced defences in plants reduce herbivory by increasing cannibalism |
Author(s): | Orrock J; Connolly B; Kitchen A; |
Address: | "Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53704, USA. jorrock@wisc.edu. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53704, USA" |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41559-017-0231-6 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2397-334X (Electronic) 2397-334X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Plants are attacked by myriad herbivores, and many plants exhibit anti-herbivore defences. We tested the hypothesis that induced defences benefit tomato plants by encouraging insects to eat other members of their species. We found that defences that promote cannibalism benefit tomatoes in two ways: cannibalism directly reduces herbivore abundance, and cannibals eat significantly less plant material. This previously unknown means of defence may alter plant-herbivore dynamics, plant evolution and pathogen transmission" |
Keywords: | Animals *Antibiosis Cannibalism Food Chain *Herbivory Larva/growth & development/physiology Solanum lycopersicum/*physiology Spodoptera/growth & development/*physiology Tetranychidae; |
Notes: | "MedlineOrrock, John Connolly, Brian Kitchen, Anthony eng England 2017/10/20 Nat Ecol Evol. 2017 Aug; 1(8):1205-1207. doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0231-6. Epub 2017 Jul 10" |