Comparison of seedling and adult palatability in annual and perennial plants

1. The relative palatabilities of the seedlings and adults of a range of British herbaceous plant species (14 annuals and 15 perennials) were compared using a generalist native herbivore (the slug Deroceras reticulatum) in a food-choice experiment. A palatability index (0 to 1) was devised. 2. A gen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Functional ecology 1999-08, Vol.13 (4), p.546-551
Main Authors: Fenner, M., Hanley, M. E., Lawrence, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical defences
Deroceras reticulatum
Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Grasses
grazing
Herbivores
Human ecology
molluscs
Mollusks
Plant ecology
Plants
Plants and fungi
relative growth rate
Seedlings
Slugs
Species
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Summary:1. The relative palatabilities of the seedlings and adults of a range of British herbaceous plant species (14 annuals and 15 perennials) were compared using a generalist native herbivore (the slug Deroceras reticulatum) in a food-choice experiment. A palatability index (0 to 1) was devised. 2. A general linear model analysis showed that, overall, there was a highly significant difference between seedling and adult palatability. 3. In the majority of cases, seedlings were more palatable than adults. However, in species with highly palatable adults the opposite tended to be the case. 4. No consistent difference between annual and perennial species was seen with respect to the relative palatabilies of adults vs seedlings. 5. No evidence of a trade-off between seedling palatability and relative growth rate was found. 6. In view of the role that selective seedling predation may play in determining species composition in the field, the results of this experiment indicate the need for caution in making ecological inferences from the exclusive use of adult material in palatability tests.
ISSN:0269-8463
1365-2435
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00346.x