Herbivory and its consequences

We argue that herbivores often induce nonlinear or biphasic growth and development in plants. Collectively these individual responses translate into a system-level optimization curve wherein at low levels of herbivory overall community responses show increases in production potential, whereas extrem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 1993-02, Vol.3 (1), p.10-16
Main Authors: Dyer, M. I., Turner, C. L., Seastedt, T. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ADAPTACION
ADAPTATION
Applied ecology
BIOMASA
BIOMASS
BIOMASSE
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
compensatory growth
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
ECOLOGIA
ECOLOGIA VEGETAL
ECOLOGIE
ECOLOGY
ESTRES
ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO DE LA PLANTA
Forum: Grazing Theory and Rangeland Management
Grasses
GRAZING
GRAZING EFFECTS
Grazing intensity
Grazing management
GRAZING SYSTEMS
GROWTH
HERBIVORE
HERBIVORES
HERBIVOROS
INSECT PESTS
INSECTE NUISIBLE
INSECTOS DANINOS
PASTOREO
PATURAGE
PEST INSECTS
PHYTOECOLOGIE
PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
PLANT ECOLOGY
PLANTAS
PLANTE
PLANTS
Population growth
Productivity
SISTEMAS DE PASTOREO
STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT VEGETAL
STRESS
SYSTEME DE PATURAGE
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Description
Summary:We argue that herbivores often induce nonlinear or biphasic growth and development in plants. Collectively these individual responses translate into a system-level optimization curve wherein at low levels of herbivory overall community responses show increases in production potential, whereas extreme herbivory causes extreme reduction in productivity. The transition between these two states defines a point of optimal herbivory in respect to C and N processes.We present four case examples from the literature demonstrating such nonlinear responses, suggesting a widespread existence for this herbivore-plant phenomenon. The nonlinear responses appear to demonstrate temporal and spatial scale dependencies.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.2307/1941781