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Impact of herbivore preference on the benefit of plant trait variability

Thiel, Tatjana ; Gaschler, Sarah ; Mody, Karsten ; Blüthgen, Nico ; Drossel, Barbara (2020)
Impact of herbivore preference on the benefit of plant trait variability.
In: Theoretical Ecology, 14
doi: 10.1007/s12080-020-00487-2
Artikel, Bibliographie

Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)

We explore the hypothesis that intraspecific trait variability can be per se beneficial for the plant when the curvature of the herbivore response to this trait is concave downwards. This hypothesis is based on a mathematical relation for nonlinear averaging (Jensen’s inequality), leading to reduced herbivory when the trait distribution becomes broader. Our study introduces and investigates a model for plants and their insect herbivores that includes an unequal distribution of nutrient content between leaves. In contrast to earlier publications, we take into account the ability of herbivores to choose leaves, and the associated costs of this preference behavior. By performing computer simulations and analytic calculations, we find that this herbivore preference can considerably alter the conclusion cited above. In particular, we demonstrate that herbivore populations that show preference for leaves on which they grow well can benefit from large nutrient-level variability independently of the curvature of the herbivore response function, despite the cost for preference.

Typ des Eintrags: Artikel
Erschienen: 2020
Autor(en): Thiel, Tatjana ; Gaschler, Sarah ; Mody, Karsten ; Blüthgen, Nico ; Drossel, Barbara
Art des Eintrags: Bibliographie
Titel: Impact of herbivore preference on the benefit of plant trait variability
Sprache: Englisch
Publikationsjahr: 11 November 2020
Verlag: Springer
Titel der Zeitschrift, Zeitung oder Schriftenreihe: Theoretical Ecology
Jahrgang/Volume einer Zeitschrift: 14
DOI: 10.1007/s12080-020-00487-2
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract):

We explore the hypothesis that intraspecific trait variability can be per se beneficial for the plant when the curvature of the herbivore response to this trait is concave downwards. This hypothesis is based on a mathematical relation for nonlinear averaging (Jensen’s inequality), leading to reduced herbivory when the trait distribution becomes broader. Our study introduces and investigates a model for plants and their insect herbivores that includes an unequal distribution of nutrient content between leaves. In contrast to earlier publications, we take into account the ability of herbivores to choose leaves, and the associated costs of this preference behavior. By performing computer simulations and analytic calculations, we find that this herbivore preference can considerably alter the conclusion cited above. In particular, we demonstrate that herbivore populations that show preference for leaves on which they grow well can benefit from large nutrient-level variability independently of the curvature of the herbivore response function, despite the cost for preference.

Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): 10 Fachbereich Biologie
10 Fachbereich Biologie > Ecological Networks
05 Fachbereich Physik
05 Fachbereich Physik > Institut für Festkörperphysik (2021 umbenannt in Institut für Physik Kondensierter Materie (IPKM))
05 Fachbereich Physik > Institut für Festkörperphysik (2021 umbenannt in Institut für Physik Kondensierter Materie (IPKM)) > Statistische Physik und komplexe Systeme
05 Fachbereich Physik > Institut für Physik Kondensierter Materie (IPKM)
05 Fachbereich Physik > Institut für Physik Kondensierter Materie (IPKM) > Theorie komplexer Systeme
Hinterlegungsdatum: 26 Nov 2020 06:34
Letzte Änderung: 20 Dez 2023 11:38
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