Effects of Stress and Rapid Growth on Fluctuating Asymmetry and Insect Damage in Birch Leaves

Martel, Jocelyn; Lempa, Kyösti; Haukioja, Erkki

doi:10.2307/3546439

Cited by 58 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…random deviation from perfect leaf symmetry (Van Valen 1962). FA is known as a reliable indicator of stress in birch (Kozlov et al 1996;Wilsey et al 1998;Martel et al 1999;Lempa et al 2000) and was the index of tree condition used by Hagen et al (2003). Sampling for FA was carried out in two areas with mature birch forest in northern Norway.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autumn coloration as a signal of tree condition

Hagen

Debeausse²,

Yoccoz³

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Hamilton and Brown suggested that bright autumn coloration in trees is an energetically expensive and therefore honest (handicap) signal of defensive commitment against insects. If this is so, one should expect that the intensity of the proposed signal should depend strongly on tree health. However, to the best of our knowledge, the link between vigour and autumn colour has never been tested. We explored the relationship between autumn coloration and tree condition (i.e. leaf fluctuating asymmetry) in mountain birch (Betula pubescens). Our results indicate that bright autumn birches are in better condition and therefore consequently should be better at combating herbivores.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autumn coloration as a signal of tree condition

Hagen

Debeausse²,

Yoccoz³

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…Nowadays, it is accepted that increased FA is related to genetic and environmental stress (Zakharov 1987;Parsons 1992;Clarke 1993;Graham et al 1993a;Markow 1994;Møller and Swaddle 1997) and poor individual quality (Møller and Pomiankowski 1993;Watson and Thornhill 1994;Markow 1995;Møller and Thornhill 1998). Several studies reported positive correlations between FA and insect herbivory (Møller 1995;Zvereva et al 1997;Martel et al 1999;Lempa et al 2000). Møller (1999b) presented evidence that FA of elm leaves (Ulmus glabra) reflects the susceptibility to disease as well as the negative effect of the disease on phenotypic development.…”

Section: Manuscript Received June 2001; Revised Manuscript Received Jmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human–landscape interactions in the Conquezuela–Ambrona Valley (Soria, continental Iberia): From the early Neolithic land use to the origin of the current oak woodland

Aranbarri

González-Sampériz

Iriarte

et al. 2015

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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We investigated the sensitivity of developmental instability measurements (leaf fluctuating asymmetry, floral radial asymmetry, and shoot translational asymmetry) to a long-standing natural stress (grazing) in a palatable tannin-producing shrub (Periploca laevigata Aiton). We also assessed the relationship between these measures of developmental instability and fitness components (growth and floral production). Developmental instability, measured by translational asymmetry, was the most accurate estimator of a plant's condition and, consequently, environmental stress. Plants with less translational asymmetry grew more and produced more flowers. Plants from the medium-grazed population were developmentally more stable, as estimated by translational and floral asymmetry, than either more heavily or more lightly grazed populations. Leaf fluctuating asymmetry was positively correlated with tannin concentration. The pattern of internode growth also responded to grazing impact. Plants under medium to heavy grazing pressure accelerated early growth and consequently escaped herbivory later in the season, i.e., at the beginning of the spring, when grazing activity was concentrated in herbaceous plants. Periploca laevigata accelerated growth and finished growing sooner than in the other grazing treatment. Thus, its annual growth was more mature and less palatable later in the season when grazers typically concentrate on shrubs. The reduction of developmental instability under medium grazing is interpreted as a direct effect of grazing and not as the release from competition.

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“…Under non-stressed conditions, leaf sides should exhibit no difference between the right and left sides. However, stressed environments tend to increase leaf side differences, causing increased FA (Martel et al 1999). Usually, high FA values are evidence of high stress (reviewed by Møller & Shykoff 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of growth, development and herbivory of Palicourea rigida are affected more by sun/shade conditions than by Cerrado phytophysiognomy

2017

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Plant development is infl uenced by several abiotic factors, which in turn infl uence morphological traits and life history. We investigated whether leaf area, herbivory, toughness, fl uctuating asymmetry, structural complexity and the number of infl orescences of Palicourea rigida are infl uenced by sun/shade conditions or by Cerrado phytophysiognomy (typical cerrado or rupestrian fi eld). We expected to fi nd greater structural complexity, leaf toughness and more infl orescences in sun plants; shaded plants were expected to exhibit a greater degree of fl uctuating asymmetry (an index of plant stress), reduced leaf toughness and greater herbivory. As for phytophysiognomies, we expected to fi nd higher levels of leaf toughness and reduced structural complexity in plants from the rupestrian fi eld. We sampled plants in the sun and shade from both phytophysiognomies. Leaf area, toughness, herbivory and fl uctuating asymmetry, were infl uenced more by sun/shade conditions than phytophysiognomy; leaf toughness was the only variable to show greater values in conditions of sun. Our results indicate that exposure to sunlight is not a requirement for increased plant development, but plants in shade are experiencing stress, as shown by increased fl uctuating asymmetry; increased leaf area, a strategy to compensate for lower light exposure for plants and higher herbivory, which depicts lower toughness.

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Effects of Stress and Rapid Growth on Fluctuating Asymmetry and Insect Damage in Birch Leaves

Cited by 58 publications

References 42 publications

Autumn coloration as a signal of tree condition

Autumn coloration as a signal of tree condition

Human–landscape interactions in the Conquezuela–Ambrona Valley (Soria, continental Iberia): From the early Neolithic land use to the origin of the current oak woodland

Patterns of growth, development and herbivory of Palicourea rigida are affected more by sun/shade conditions than by Cerrado phytophysiognomy

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