Ecology of Plastic Flowers
Plant phenotypic plasticity in response to herbivore attack includes changes in flower traits. Such herbivore-induced changes in flower traits have consequences for interactions with flower visitors. We synthesize here current knowledge on the specificity of herbivore-induced changes in flower traits, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and the ecological consequences for flower-associated communities. Herbivore-induced changes in flower traits seem to be largely herbivore species-specific. The extensive plasticity observed in flowers influences a highly connected web of interactions within the flower-associated community. We argue that the adaptive value of herbivore-induced plant responses and flower plasticity can be fully understood only from a community perspective rather than from pairwise interactions.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article/Letter to editor biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | flower traits, flower visitors, herbivore-induced plant responses, phenotypic plasticity, plant defense, specificity, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/ecology-of-plastic-flowers |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|