How do soil resources affect herbivory in tropical plants along environmental gradients? : a test using contrasting congeneric species.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Plants adapted to different habitats exhibit
differences in functional traits and these characteris-
tics are influenced by soil properties. We tested the
hypothesis that soil resource availability influences the
functional traits of plants, affecting therefore her-
bivory levels. We examined three Byrsonima plant
species with different life forms that occurred across a
distinct edaphic habitat along the Doce River Basin,
South-eastern Brazil. We characterized habitats
according to soil nutrient concentration and measured functional characteristics of crown architecture, leaf
nutrients, sclerophylly, leaf area and leaf density. In
addition, we evaluated how these variables influenced
herbivory levels of congeneric plants. Our data show
that species along a gradient of soil nutrients have
functional characteristics influenced by habitat, which
in turn affect herbivory levels. By comparing con-
geners with different life forms found along a stress-
gradient of continuous habitats, we describe a corre-
sponding gradient of plant functional traits and tissue
consumption by herbivorous insects.
Description
Keywords
Resource availability, Foliar nutrients, Plant functional traits
Citation
PINTO, V. D. et al. How do soil resources affect herbivory in tropical plants along environmental gradients?: a test using contrasting congeneric species. Plant Ecology, v. 222, p. 1281-1295, 2021. Disponível em: <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11258-021-01177-7>. Acesso em: 29 abr. 2022.