Trade-Offs and Constraints in Plant-Herbivore Defense Theory: A Life-History Perspective

Trade-offs and constraints are key ideas in plant defense theory. Here I argue that trade-offs, such as those between defense and growth, may be better understood by incorporating insights from life-history studies. Specifically, I set out criteria for characterizing resource based trade-offs, becau...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 1994-10, Vol.71 (1), p.3-12
Main Author: Mole, Simon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ecological genetics
Ecological life histories
Evolution
Evolutionary genetics
Growth traits
Herbivores
Mini-Review
Natural resources
Phenotypic traits
Plant growth
Plants
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Summary:Trade-offs and constraints are key ideas in plant defense theory. Here I argue that trade-offs, such as those between defense and growth, may be better understood by incorporating insights from life-history studies. Specifically, I set out criteria for characterizing resource based trade-offs, because these lie at the heart of current defense theory. I show that defense theory is often supported by inappropriate evidence from negative trait associations seen in the field, or from genetic studies. Such evidence is inappropriate because trade-offs grounded in genetic constraints can differ fundamentally from those conceived in terms of limiting resources. In work on resource based trade-offs there is often a failure to consider the critical issues of whether the resources involved are limiting, and whether this limitation is imposed by the assimilatory capacity of the organism or by a shortage in its environment. Another important consideration is whether a trade-off is between two traits that jointly consume all resources. Where this is not the case, unforeseen trade-offs with "third party traits" may confound analyses. I discuss the practical issues of resolving these problems with plants, and present a program for future research on resource based trade-offs involving plant defense.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.2307/3546166