Data on Herbivore Performance and Plant Herbivore Damage Identify the Same Plant Traits as the Key Drivers of Plant–Herbivore Interaction

Abstract

Data on plant herbivore damage as well as on herbivore performance have been previously used to identify key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions. The extent to which the two approaches lead to similar conclusions remains to be explored. We determined the effect of a free-living leaf-chewing generalist caterpillar, Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on leaf damage of 24 closely related plant species from the Carduoideae subfamily and the effect of these plant species on caterpillar growth. We used a wide range of physical defense leaf traits and leaf nutrient contents as the plant traits. Herbivore performance and leaf damage were affected by similar plant traits. Traits related to higher caterpillar mortality (higher leaf dissection, number, length and toughness of spines and lower trichome density) also led to higher leaf damage. This fits with the fact that each caterpillar was feeding on a single plant and, thus, had to consume more biomass of the less suitable plants to obtain the same amount of nutrients. The key plant traits driving plant–herbivore interactions identified based on data on herbivore performance largely corresponded to the traits identified as important based on data on leaf damage. This suggests that both types of data may be used to identify the key plant traits determining plant–herbivore interactions. It is, however, important to carefully distinguish whether the data on leaf damage were obtained in the field or in a controlled feeding experiment, as the patterns expected in the two environments may go in opposite directions.

Reactive Oxygen Species Initiate Defence Responses of Potato Photosystem II to Sap-Sucking Insect Feeding

“…Herbivory is one of the most important factors affecting plant fitness [ 58 ], and plant primary photochemistry is the principal plant trait shaping plant–herbivore interaction. The response mechanism of photosystem II photochemistry to insect herbivory and its ability to induce a compensatory mechanism that increases PSII photochemistry in response to herbivore feeding is fundamental in plant resistance to herbivores [ 4 ].…”

Density-Dependent Effects of Simultaneous Root and Floral Herbivory on Plant Fitness and Defense

“…Several plant traits related to growth, defense, and reproduction were measured, as well as the seedling emergence on offspring. Given that the caterpillar performance and growth rate determine the damage they cause on plants [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ], we also evaluated the floral herbivore caterpillar development time in the different treatments. We tested whether (i) the plant defense responses to both herbivore group densities would be independent, (ii) the impact on plant fitness of both herbivore group densities would be additive, and (iii) the impact on plant fitness of both herbivore groups would linearly rather than non-linearly increase with their density.…”

Marine Autotroph-Herbivore Synergies: Unravelling the Roles of Macroalgae in Marine Ecosystem Dynamics

“…It has been reported that the feeding (or grazing) preferences of the herbivores can determine the relationship between native or invasive autotrophs [ 17 , 18 ]. Recent findings also suggested that mechanisms underlying autotroph palatability could help resolve the inconsistent results of novelty [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…It is worth noting that autotrophic characteristics may have the opposite effect on autotroph-herbivore interactions in controlled experimental studies where herbivores are restricted to a single autotroph species than in effects seen in field studies where herbivores are free to move around and cause natural autotroph damage. Future research examining the significance of autotroph features in interactions between autotrophs and herbivores must therefore carefully take into account the context in which the relationships have been observed [ 19 ].…”