Dynamic extrafloral nectar production: The timing of leaf damage affects the defensive response in <i>Senna mexicana</i> var. <i>chapmanii</i> (Fabaceae)

Jones, Ian M.; Koptur, Suzanne

doi:10.3732/ajb.1400381

Cited by 32 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(123 reference statements)

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“…; Heil ). Indeed, increased EFN production in response to leaf damage has been observed previously in S. chapmanii (Jones and Koptur ). We observe for the first time, however, that this induced response is maintained in light‐limited conditions, albeit at a lower level.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Leaf damage was inflicted by removing 50% of each leaflet using scissors. The same damage treatments were used in a previous study (Jones and Koptur ) and induced a highly significant increase in EFN production in S. chapmanii . The remaining 12 plants were left undamaged.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…chapmanii (hereafter referred to as Senna chapmanii ) is an herbaceous legume native to the pine rocklands of south Florida and the Caribbean. We have already shown that S. chapmanii plants produce more EFN in response to leaf damage (Jones and Koptur ). We have also observed that plants in shady conditions are less well defended by ants than those in direct sunlight (I. M. Jones, S. Koptur, J. Tardanico, H. Gallegos and P. Trainer, unpubl.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Quantity over quality: light intensity, but not red/far‐red ratio, affects extrafloral nectar production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

Jones

Koptur

2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Extrafloral nectar (EFN) mediates food‐for‐protection mutualisms between plants and insects and provides plants with a form of indirect defense against herbivory. Understanding sources of variation in EFN production is important because such variations affect the number and identity of insect visitors and the effectiveness of plant defense. Light represents a potentially crucial tool for regulating resource allocation to defense, as it not only contributes energy but may help plants to anticipate future conditions. Low red/far‐red (R/FR) light ratios can act as a signal of the proximity of competing plants. Exposure to such light ratios has been shown to promote competitive behaviors that coincide with reduced resource allocation to direct chemical defenses. Little is known, however, about how such informational light signals might affect indirect defenses such as EFN, and the interactions that they mediate. Through controlled glasshouse experiments, we investigated the effects of light intensity, and R/FR light ratios, on EFN production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii. Plants in light‐limited conditions produced significantly less EFN, and leaf damage elicited increased EFN production regardless of light conditions. Ratios of R/FR light, however, did not appear to affect EFN production in either damaged or undamaged plants. Understanding the effects of light on indirect defenses is of particular importance for plants in the threatened pine rockland habitats of south Florida, where light conditions are changing in predictable ways following extensive fragmentation and subsequent mismanagement. Around 27% of species in these habitats produce EFN and may rely on insect communities for defense.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Quantity over quality: light intensity, but not red/far‐red ratio, affects extrafloral nectar production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

Jones

Koptur

2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The EFN productivity is determined through plant genotype [41–42], but it may be affected by herbivores due to the induced defense [32, 43–44], and also by abiotic factors such as temperature and moisture [45–47]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in Extrafloral Nectary Productivity Influences the Ant Foraging

2017

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Extrafloral nectar is the main food source offered by plants to predatory ants in most land environments. Although many studies have demonstrated the importance of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) to plant defense against herbivores, the influence of EFNs secretory activity pattern on predatory ants remains yet not fully understood. Here, we verified the relation between the extrafloral nectar production of a plant community in Cerrado in different times of the day, and its attractiveness to ants. The extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of seven plant species showed higher productivity overnight. Ant abundance was higher in times of large extrafloral nectar production, however, there was no positive relation between ant richness on plants and EFNs productivity. There was temporal resource partitioning among ant species, and it indicates strong resource competition. The nectar productivity varied among plant species and time of the day, and it influenced the visitation patterns of ants. Therefore, EFNs are a key ant-plant interaction driver in the studied system.

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“…For each plant, combined nectar volume from the five most recently matured leaves on the chosen branch was measured using 1‐, 2‐, and 10‐ μ l micropipettes. Nectar concentration was measured using a handheld refractometer, and total sugar production was estimated from the combination of these measurements (see Jones & Koptur ,b). In the results, EFN is expressed as total sugar production.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing light conditions in pine rockland habitats affect the intensity and outcome of ant–plant interactions

et al. 2016

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Extrafloral nectar (EFN) mediates food‐for‐protection mutualisms between plants and ants. Such mutualisms exist within a complex web of biotic interactions, and in a framework provided by the abiotic environment. Both biotic and abiotic factors, therefore, affect the outcome of ant–plant interactions. We conducted an experiment to determine the effects of ant activity, and light intensity, on herbivory rates, growth, and reproductive fitness in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii, a perennial legume native to pine rockland habitats of south Florida. Forty plants were divided among four treatments in a factorial experimental design with two independent variables: ant activity and light intensity. Plants were divided equally between sunny and shady habitats, and ants were excluded from half of the plants in each habitat type. The presence of ants significantly reduced herbivory rates in S. chapmanii. In shaded habitats, the presence of ants had no effect on plant reproductive fitness, however, in sunny habitats plants with ants produced significantly more seeds over the duration of the 1‐yr study. Ants represent an important biotic defense against herbivores in S. chapmanii; however, their effects on plant fitness are dependent on light conditions. Pine rockland habitats in south Florida have been widely destroyed or mismanaged. In fragments that remain, suppression of fire has led to increased canopy closure and shading of the understory. These changes will likely negatively impact plants that rely on ants for defense. We highlight the importance of conservation efforts to preserve the pine rocklands and the fire regimes on which they rely.

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Dynamic extrafloral nectar production: The timing of leaf damage affects the defensive response in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii (Fabaceae)

Abstract: Extrafloral nectar is an inducible defense in S. chapmanii. Developmental variations in its production support the growth differentiation balance hypothesis, while within-plant variations and damage responses support optimal defense theory.

Cited by 32 publications

References 76 publications

Quantity over quality: light intensity, but not red/far‐red ratio, affects extrafloral nectar production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

Quantity over quality: light intensity, but not red/far‐red ratio, affects extrafloral nectar production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii

Variation in Extrafloral Nectary Productivity Influences the Ant Foraging

Changing light conditions in pine rockland habitats affect the intensity and outcome of ant–plant interactions

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