Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

18 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Evolutionary irony: evidence that 'defensive' plant spines act as a proximate cue to attract a mammalian herbivore.

ABSTRACT: Many plants produce structural defenses to deter feeding by herbivores. However, many previous studies testing whether spines are effective at defending against mammalian herbivores have produced equivocal results. These ambiguous results are hypothesized to be due to herbivore counter-adaptations. We investigated potential counter-adaptations in a population of white-throated woodrats Neotoma albigua that specialize on cactus by investigating feeding behavior and preference for cacti varying in spinescence. Neotoma albigula exhibited a unique behavior of clipping cactus spines, which renders these defenses ineffective. Strikingly, these woodrats chose to collect spiny cacti over experimentally de-spined cacti, demonstrating that spines act as a proximal cue that attracts woodrats. This attraction is likely due to the higher protein and lower fiber content of spiny cacti compared to naturally non-spiny cacti. Thus, the 'defensive' spines of cacti are ineffective against a specialist herbivore and instead serve as an indicator of nutritional quality that promotes herbivory. Our results support the 'rule-of-thumb' hypothesis of foraging, which states that herbivores forage according to obvious visual cues that are indicative of nutritional content, rather than sampling nutrient composition of plants. We propose that specialist herbivores are unique systems in which to study other counter-adaptations to structural defenses and 'rule-of-thumb' foraging strategies.

SUBMITTER: Kohl KD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8046181 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

A below-ground herbivore shapes root defensive chemistry in natural plant populations.

Project description:Plants display extensive intraspecific variation in secondary metabolites. However, the selective forces shaping this diversity remain often unknown, especially below ground. Using Taraxacum officinale and its major native insect root herbivore Melolontha melolontha, we tested whether below-ground herbivores drive intraspecific variation in root secondary metabolites. We found that high M. melolontha infestation levels over recent decades are associated with high concentrations of major root latex secondary metabolites across 21 central European T. officinale field populations. By cultivating offspring of these populations, we show that both heritable variation and phenotypic plasticity contribute to the observed differences. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the production of the sesquiterpene lactone taraxinic acid ?-D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G) is costly in the absence, but beneficial in the presence of M. melolontha, resulting in divergent selection of TA-G. Our results highlight the role of soil-dwelling insects for the evolution of plant defences in nature.

| S-EPMC4822473 | biostudies-literature

Nocturnal scent in a 'bird-fig': A cue to attract bats as additional dispersers?

Project description:The plant genus Ficus is a keystone resource in tropical ecoystems. One of the unique features of figs is the diversity of fruit traits, which in many cases match their various dispersers, the so-called fruit syndromes. The classic example of this is the strong phenotypic differences found between figs with bat and bird dispersers (color, size, presentation, and scent). The 'bird-fig' Ficus colubrinae represents an exception to this trend since it attracts the small frugivorous bat species Ectophylla alba at night, but during the day it attracts bird visitors. Here we investigate day to night changes in fruit scent as a possible mechanism by which this 'bird-fig' could attract bats despite its fruit traits, which should appeal solely to birds. Analyses of odor bouquets from the bat- and bird-dispersal phases (i.e. day and night) differed significantly in their composition of volatiles. We observed a significant increase in relative amounts of sesquiterpene and aromatic compounds at night while relative amounts of two compounds of the fatty acid pathway were significantly higher during day. This finding raises the question whether Ficus colubrinae, a phenotypically classic 'bird-fig', might be able to attract bat dispersers by an olfactory signal at night. Preliminary observations from feeding experiments which indicate that Ectophylla alba is capable of finding ripe figs by scent alone point in this direction. However, additional behavioral experiments on whether bats prefer the 'night-bouquet' over the 'day-bouquet' will be needed to unequivocally answer this question.

| S-EPMC6695144 | biostudies-literature

Symmetry-based reciprocity: evolutionary constraints on a proximate mechanism.

Project description:Background. While the evolution of reciprocal cooperation has attracted an enormous attention, the proximate mechanisms underlying the ability of animals to cooperate reciprocally are comparatively neglected. Symmetry-based reciprocity is a hypothetical proximate mechanism that has been suggested to be widespread among cognitively unsophisticated animals. Methods. We developed two agent-based models of symmetry-based reciprocity (one relying on an arbitrary tag and the other on interindividual proximity) and tested their ability both to reproduce significant emergent features of cooperation in group living animals and to promote the evolution of cooperation. Results. Populations formed by agents adopting symmetry-based reciprocity showed differentiated "social relationships" and a positive correlation between cooperation given and received: two common aspects of animal cooperation. However, when reproduction and selection across multiple generations were added to the models, agents adopting symmetry-based reciprocity were outcompeted by selfish agents that never cooperated. Discussion. In order to evolve, hypothetical proximate mechanisms must be able to stand competition from alternative strategies. While the results of our simulations require confirmation using analytical methods, we provisionally suggest symmetry-based reciprocity is to be abandoned as a possible proximate mechanism underlying the ability of animals to reciprocate cooperative interactions.

| S-EPMC4797768 | biostudies-literature

Herbivore-specific induction of indirect and direct defensive responses in leaves and roots.

Project description:Herbivory can induce both general and specific responses in plants that modify direct and indirect defence against subsequent herbivory. The type of induction (local versus systemic induction, single versus multiple defence induction) likely depends both on herbivore identity and relationships among different responses. We examined the effects of two above-ground chewing herbivores (caterpillar, weevil) and one sucking herbivore (aphid) on indirect defence responses in leaves and direct defence responses in both leaves and roots of tallow tree, Triadica sebifera. We also included foliar applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA). We found that chewing herbivores and MeJA increased above-ground defence chemicals but SA only increased below-ground total flavonoids. Herbivory or MeJA increased above-ground indirect defence response (extrafloral nectar) but SA decreased it. Principal component analysis showed there was a trade-off between increasing total root phenolics and tannins (MeJA, chewing) versus latex and total root flavonoids (aphid, SA). For individual flavonoids, there was evidence for systemic induction (quercetin), trade-offs between compounds (quercetin versus kaempferitrin) and trade-offs between above-ground versus below-ground production (isoquercetin). Our results suggest that direct and indirect defence responses in leaves and roots depend on herbivore host range and specificity along with feeding mode. We detected relationships among some defence response types, while others were independent. Including multiple types of insects to examine defence inductions in leaves and roots may better elucidate the complexity and specificity of defence responses of plants.

| S-EPMC6378760 | biostudies-literature

Constitutive and herbivore-induced systemic volatiles differentially attract an omnivorous biocontrol agent to contrasting Salix clones.

Project description:While carnivores are known to be attracted to herbivore-induced plant volatiles, little is known about how such volatiles may affect the behaviour of omnivorous predators that may use both plants and herbivores as food. Here, we examine how systemically produced plant volatiles, in response to local herbivore damage, differentially attract a key omnivorous predator, Anthocoris nemorum (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), to single clones of three species of Salix: S. viminalis, S. dasyclados and S. cinerea. The profiles of the plant volatiles produced were found to vary among Salix clones and between herbivore-damaged and intact plants. Anthocoris nemorum was attracted to the volatiles released from undamaged plants of all three species, but most strongly to a native S. cinerea clone. Plants damaged by the herbivorous leaf beetle Phratora vulgatissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were generally more attractive than undamaged plants, with A. nemorum responding to systemic changes in the damaged plants where the experimental design specifically excluded volatiles released from the actual site of damage. When comparing damaged plants, the S. dasyclados clone was more attractive to A. nemorum than the S. viminalis clone-a somewhat surprising result since this Salix clone is considered relatively resistant to P. vulgatissima, and hence offers a limited amount of prey. Our experiments highlight that both constitutive and induced plant volatiles play a role in omnivore attraction, and this emphasizes the importance of considering odours of released volatiles when cropping and breeding Salix for increased resistance to herbivores.

| S-EPMC3587182 | biostudies-literature

Specialist root herbivore modulates plant transcriptome and downregulates defensive secondary metabolites in a brassicaceous plant.

Project description:Plants face attackers aboveground and belowground. Insect root herbivores can lead to severe crop losses, yet the underlying transcriptomic responses have rarely been studied. We studied the dynamics of the transcriptomic response of Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) primary roots to feeding damage by cabbage root fly larvae (Delia radicum), alone or in combination with aboveground herbivory by cabbage aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae) or diamondback moth caterpillars (Plutella xylostella). This was supplemented with analyses of phytohormones and the main classes of secondary metabolites; aromatic, indole and aliphatic glucosinolates. Root herbivory leads to major transcriptomic rearrangement that is modulated by aboveground feeding caterpillars, but not aphids, through priming soon after root feeding starts. The root herbivore downregulates aliphatic glucosinolates. Knocking out aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis with CRISPR-Cas9 results in enhanced performance of the specialist root herbivore, indicating that the herbivore downregulates an effective defence. This study advances our understanding of how plants cope with root herbivory and highlights several novel aspects of insect-plant interactions for future research. Further, our findings may help breeders develop a sustainable solution to a devastating root pest.

| S-EPMC9540780 | biostudies-literature

Evolutionary stability of antibiotic protection in a defensive symbiosis.

Project description:The increasing resistance of human pathogens severely limits the efficacy of antibiotics in medicine, yet many animals, including solitary beewolf wasps, successfully engage in defensive alliances with antibiotic-producing bacteria for millions of years. Here, we report on the in situ production of 49 derivatives belonging to three antibiotic compound classes (45 piericidin derivatives, 3 streptochlorin derivatives, and nigericin) by the symbionts of 25 beewolf host species and subspecies, spanning 68 million years of evolution. Despite a high degree of qualitative stability in the antibiotic mixture, we found consistent quantitative differences between species and across geographic localities, presumably reflecting adaptations to combat local pathogen communities. Antimicrobial bioassays with the three main components and in silico predictions based on the structure and specificity in polyketide synthase domains of the piericidin biosynthesis gene cluster yield insights into the mechanistic basis and ecoevolutionary implications of producing a complex mixture of antimicrobial compounds in a natural setting.

| S-EPMC5834716 | biostudies-literature

A nonspecific defensive compound evolves into a competition avoidance cue and a female sex pheromone.

Project description:The evolution of chemical communication and the origin of pheromones are among the most challenging issues in chemical ecology. Current theory predicts that chemical communication can arise from compounds primarily evolved for non-communicative purposes but experimental evidence showing a gradual evolution of non-informative compounds into cues and true signals is scarce. Here we report that females of the parasitic wasp Leptopilina heterotoma use the defensive compound (-)-iridomyrmecin as a semiochemical cue to avoid interference with con- and heterospecific competitors and as the main component of a species-specific sex pheromone. Although competition avoidance is mediated by (-)-iridomyrmecin alone, several structurally related minor compounds are necessary for reliable mate attraction and recognition. Our findings provide insights into the evolution of insect pheromones by demonstrating that the increasing specificity of chemical information is accompanied by an increasing complexity of the chemical messengers involved and the evolution of the chemosensory adaptations for their exploitation.

| S-EPMC3868268 | biostudies-literature

Plant Defensive β-Glucosidases Resist Digestion and Sustain Activity in the Gut of a Lepidopteran Herbivore.

Project description:Two-component activated chemical defenses are a major part of many plants' strategies to disrupt herbivory. The activation step is often the β-glucosidase-catalyzed removal of a glucose moiety from a pro-toxin, leading to an unstable and toxic aglycone. While some β-glucosidases have been well studied, several aspects of their roles in vivo, such as their precise sites of enzymatic activity during and after ingestion, and the importance of particular isoforms in plant defense are still not fully understood. Here, plant defensive β-glucosidases from maize, white mustard and almonds were shown to resist digestion by larvae of the generalist lepidopteran Spodoptera littoralis, and the majority of the ingested activities toward both general and plant pro-toxic substrates was recovered in the frass. Among other proteins potentially involved in defense, we identified specific plant β-glucosidases and a maize β-glucosidase aggregating factor in frass from plant-fed insects using proteomic methods. We therefore found that, while S. littoralis larvae efficiently degraded bulk food protein during digestion, β-glucosidases were among a small number of plant defensive proteins that resist insect digestive proteolysis. These enzymes remain intact in the gut lumen and frass and can therefore further catalyze the activation of plant defenses after ingestion, especially in pH-neutral regions of the digestive system. As most of the ingested enzymatic activity persists in the frass, and only particular β-glucosidases were detected via proteomic analyses, our data support the involvement of specific isoforms (maize ZmGlu1 and S. alba MA1 myrosinase) in defense in vivo.

| S-EPMC6186830 | biostudies-literature

"Wonderful! We've just missed the bus." - Parental use of irony and children's irony comprehension.

Project description:Irony is one of the linguistic means in which intended and expressed meaning diverge. It serves social-communicative functions, requires the understanding of the speaker's mental state and its comprehension takes place at an advanced stage of language acquisition. In the present study, we investigated 8-year old's irony comprehension and social skills and asked their parents about their preferred use of irony towards their children. We then compared children with the highest scores in irony comprehension test with those with lower scores. The full sample included 46 families from Poland. Results show positive associations between children's levels of irony comprehension and levels of mothers irony use. No such relations were found for fathers. No differences were found in ToM scores between proficient and non-proficient irony comprehenders. Our findings provide a base for future studies to study the use of irony in child-parent talk in more diverse culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

| S-EPMC7034895 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data