Costs and benefits of plant resistance to herbivory

The cost-benefit theory of the evolution of plant resistance to herbivory assumes that the allocation of plant resources to defense against herbivores is costly. We present a graphical model, which states that allocation of plant resources to defense against herbivores evolves so as to maximize the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American naturalist 1987-10, Vol.130 (4), p.570-581
Main Authors: Simms, E.L, Rausher, M.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AFFECTATION DE RESSOURCES
ANALISIS DE COSTOS Y BENEFICIOS
ANALYSE COUT AVANTAGE
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
ASIGNACION DE RECURSOS
Autoecology
Beetles
Biological and medical sciences
CHAETOCNEMA
Chaetocnema confinis
Chrysomelidae
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Ecological competition
Evolution
Fleas
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
GENETICA
GENETICS
GENETIQUE
Genotypes
Herbivores
Infestation
Insect genetics
IPOMOEA
IPOMOEA PURPUREA
MODELE
MODELOS
PEST RESISTANCE
Plants
Plants and fungi
RESISTANCE AUX RAVAGEURS
RESISTENCIA A LAS PLAGAS
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Seed production
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Summary:The cost-benefit theory of the evolution of plant resistance to herbivory assumes that the allocation of plant resources to defense against herbivores is costly. We present a graphical model, which states that allocation of plant resources to defense against herbivores evolves so as to maximize the difference between benefits and costs associated with resistance. A method for quantification of such costs, using genetic regression coefficients between fitness and defense, is described. This technique was applied to measure the cost to tall morning glory. (Ipomoea purpurea) of resistance to the sweet potato flea beetle (Chaetocnema confinis). The morning glory population studied exhibited significant amounts of heritable variation in resistance in flea beetles. However, there was no evidence for costs of resistance to plants in this population.
ISSN:0003-0147
1537-5323
DOI:10.1086/284731