Divergent evolution in antiherbivore defences within species complexes at a single Amazonian site

Classic theory in plant–insect interactions has linked herbivore pressure with diversification in plant species. We hypothesize that herbivores may exert divergent selection on defences, such that closely related plant species will be more different in defensive than in non‐defensive traits. We eval...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of ecology 2015-09, Vol.103 (5), p.1107-1118
Main Authors: Endara, María‐José, Weinhold, Alexander, Cox, James E, Wiggins, Natasha L, Coley, Phyllis D, Kursar, Thomas A, Carson, Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Defense mechanisms
divergent evolution
Flowers & plants
Genotype & phenotype
habitat preferences
Herbivores
Inga
Inga capitata
insects
natural enemies
Peru
phenotypic variation
plant defences
Plant-herbivore interactions
plant-insect relations
population
trait divergence
tropical rain forests
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Classic theory in plant–insect interactions has linked herbivore pressure with diversification in plant species. We hypothesize that herbivores may exert divergent selection on defences, such that closely related plant species will be more different in defensive than in non‐defensive traits. We evaluated this hypothesis by investigating two clades of closely related plant species coexisting at a single site in the Peruvian Amazon: Inga capitata Desv. and Inga heterophylla Willd. species complexes. We compared how these lineages differ in the suite of chemical, biotic, phenological and developmental defences as compared to non‐defensive traits that are related to habitat use and resource acquisition. We also collected insect herbivores feeding on the plants. Our data show that sister lineages within both species complexes are more divergent in antiherbivore defences than in other non‐defensive, functional traits. Moreover, the assemblages of herbivore communities are dissimilar between the populations of coexisting I. capitata lineages. Synthesis. Our results are consistent with the idea that for the I. capitata and I. heterophylla species complexes, interactions with their natural enemies may have played a significant role in their phenotypic divergence and potentially in their diversification and coexistence. It also suggests that defensive traits are evolutionary labile.
ISSN:0022-0477
1365-2745
DOI:10.1111/1365-2745.12431