30 Questions
What is herbivory defined as?
Consumption of plant material
What is a characteristic of specialist herbivores?
They eat one or a small number of plant species
Which of the following is an example of a generalist herbivore?
Mammalian herbivores
What is a common habitat for herbivores?
Terrestrial systems
What do herbivores feed on?
Different plant parts
What is true about plant parts below ground?
They are not protected from herbivores
What type of herbivores are often studied in terrestrial systems?
Mammalian herbivores and insect herbivores
Which of the following is NOT a type of herbivore?
Carnivorous mammal
What is a characteristic of generalist herbivores?
They eat a wide variety of plants
What role might herbivores play in the environment?
They redistribute nutrients over large spatial scales.
What is the key difference between herbivory and predation?
In herbivory, the victims are sessile, whereas in predation, they are not.
What is one way to categorize herbivores based on their diet?
By their diet breadth
What is the primary goal of resistance in plants?
To prevent herbivore damage.
What is an example of a structural defence in plants?
Growing spines to prevent herbivore feeding.
What is a characteristic of chemical defences in plants?
They can have herbivore-specific effects.
What is an example of a biotic defence in plants?
Forming mutualisms with ants.
Why might it not be beneficial for plants to always invest in defences?
Defences can be costly for the plant.
What is a strategy that plants can use to optimise resource use?
Investing in defences only when they are most vulnerable to herbivore attack.
What is a characteristic of induced defences in plants?
They can be triggered by herbivore attack.
What can be an indirect defence triggered by plants?
Releasing volatile organic compounds that attract natural enemies.
What is the approximate percentage of net primary production removed by herbivores globally?
10%
What is the primary method used to exclude vertebrate herbivores in experiments?
Fences
What is the key difference between herbivory and predation?
Herbivory often does not kill the plant, while predation does
What was the result of Mick Crawley's experiment on oak trees, where insect herbivores were suppressed using an insecticide?
An increase in acorn production
What was the effect of herbivory on the photosynthetic rate of oak leaves in a study?
A significant decrease in photosynthetic rate
What is the term for seed eaters, according to herbivore feeding guild terminology?
Granivores
How can herbivores influence plant diversity in a community?
Through both direct and indirect effects
What is the result of herbivory on young seedlings of the tropical tree Cordia alliodora, according to a study?
An increase in mortality rates
What is the term for flower eaters, according to herbivore feeding guild terminology?
Florivores
At what spatial scale does variation in herbivory occur, according to the text?
At a range of spatial scales, including biomes, ecosystems, and plant individuals
Study Notes
Herbivory Definition and Types
- Herbivory is the consumption of plant material, a common antagonistic interaction in ecological systems.
- Herbivores can be divided into two broad categories: specialists and generalists.
- Specialist herbivores feed on one or a few plant species, while generalist herbivores have a broader diet.
- Examples of herbivores include Daphnia pulex, wildebeest, marine iguana, leaf-mining insect, and many others.
Herbivore Feeding Guilds
- Herbivores feed on different plant parts, including leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
- Folivores, florivores, frugivores, and granivores are examples of herbivore feeding guilds.
Herbivory Impact on Plants and Ecosystems
- Herbivores form an important link in terrestrial and aquatic food webs, removing around 10% of net primary production.
- Herbivory can have a major impact on plants, but it often does not kill the plant.
- Herbivore exclusion experiments are used to investigate the effects of herbivores on plant individuals, populations, and communities.
Effects of Herbivory on Plant Fitness and Population
- Herbivory can affect plant fitness, reducing acorn production in oak trees, for example.
- Herbivory can also affect plant population growth rates through increased mortality or reproductive output.
- Herbivores can influence plant diversity by adding or removing species, or altering competitive interactions between plant species.
Herbivory and Ecosystem Structure
- Herbivores can have effects on the structure and diversity of plant communities, redistributing nutrients over large spatial scales.
- Herbivores can also impact the global climate by changing vegetation structure.
Plant Defense Strategies
- Plants adopt two strategies to cope with herbivory: resistance and tolerance.
- Resistance is the ability to prevent herbivore damage, while tolerance is the ability to mitigate the negative effects of herbivory.
- Anti-herbivore defenses can be structural, chemical, or biotic.
Anti-Herbivore Defenses
- Structural defenses include surface features that deter herbivores, such as hairy leaves or spines.
- Chemical defenses include a diverse range of compounds that prevent herbivores from feeding or affect them after ingestion.
- Biotic defenses involve mutualisms with other organisms, such as ants that protect acacia trees.
- Plants invest in defenses only when necessary, and may change their defense strategy over time or in response to herbivore attack.
Learn about herbivory, a common antagonistic interaction in ecological systems, and its different types, including specialists and generalists.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
