Trichobaris weevils distinguish amongst toxic host plants by sensing volatiles that do not affect larval performance

Herbivorous insects use plant metabolites to inform their host plant selection for oviposition. These host‐selection behaviours are often consistent with the preference–performance hypothesis; females oviposit on hosts that maximize the performance of their offspring. However, the metabolites used for these oviposition choices and those responsible for differences in offspring performance remain unknown for ecologically relevant interactions. Here, we examined the host‐selection behaviours of two sympatric weevils, the Datura (Trichobaris compacta) and tobacco (T. mucorea) weevils in field and glasshouse experiments with transgenic host plants specifically altered in different components of their secondary metabolism. Adult females of both species strongly preferred to feed on D. wrightii rather than on N. attenuata leaves, but T. mucorea preferred to oviposit on N. attenuata, while T. compacta oviposited only on D. wrightii. These oviposition behaviours increased offspring performance: T. compacta larvae only survived in D. wrightii stems and T. mucorea larvae survived better in N. attenuata than in D. wrightii stems. Choice assays with nicotine‐free, JA‐impaired, and sesquiterpene‐over‐produced isogenic N. attenuata plants revealed that although half of the T. compacta larvae survived in nicotine‐free N. attenuata lines, nicotine did not influence the oviposition behaviours of both the nicotine‐adapted and nicotine‐sensitive species. JA‐induced sesquiterpene volatiles are key compounds influencing T. mucorea females’ oviposition choices, but these sesquiterpenes had no effect on larval performance. We conclude that adult females are able to choose the best host plant for their offspring and use chemicals different from those that influence larval performance to inform their oviposition decisions.     

Plant size influences abundance of floral visitors and biomass allocation for the cushion plant Thylacospermum caespitosum under an extreme alpine environment

Variation in size may influence the abundance of visitors and reproductive allocation for cushion plants in the extreme alpine environments. To assess effects of plant size on the abundance of main visitors and reproductive allocation in Thylacospermum caespitosum populations at two altitudes, the abundance of the visitors, visiting frequency, total number of flowers, number of fruits, number of unseeded flowers, and reproductive allocation were investigated during the period of reproductive growth. Concurrently, the effects of plant size on the visitors' contributions to fruit setting rate were assessed by a bagging experiment. Our results showed that flies (Musca domestica and Dasyphora asiatica) were the main pollinating insects of T. caespitosum, and they could obvious facilitate (p < 0.05) the fruit setting rate of this cushion plant. Seed set and floral visitation were significantly influenced (p < 0.001) by plant size. Moreover, the reproductive allocation and fruit setting rate of T. caespitosum was influenced (p < 0.001) by plant size. More biomass was allocated to reproduction in plants of greater diameter. There is an increase in reproductive success (increases of fruit number with increase in plant size) in relation to plant size. In conclusion, the extent of M. domestica and D. asiatica to facilitate the fruit setting rate mainly depended on the size of T. caespitosum. Size‐dependent reproductive allocation occurred in T. caespitosum and was the chief factor affecting the contribution of flies to fruit setting rate. These traits reflect reproductive fitness of T. caespitosum related to plant size in extreme alpine environments.     

High chemical diversity of a plant species is accompanied by increased chemical defence in invasive populations

Mechanisms contributing to the invasive success of plants are still only partly understood. A main assumption is that an escape from specialized enemies in introduced ranges allows a reduction of chemical defences resulting in an increase in growth and reproduction and thus increased competitive ability of introduced plants. Not only variation in concentration but also variation in composition of chemical compounds between individuals may be a key advantage for plants introduced to novel areas impeding adaptation of different plant antagonists. To investigate quantitative and qualitative variation of putative defence compounds and investment of resources in growth, we conducted a common garden experiment in the native range with seeds of 13 native and 9 introduced populations of Tanacetum vulgare, an aromatic plant forming different chemotypes. After 3.5 months, plants of introduced populations had similar biomass but more stems and higher concentrations of volatile secondary compounds (mainly terpenes) than plants of native populations. Both native and invasive T. vulgare populations exhibited high chemotypic variation with nine chemotypes occurring on both continents, whereas several were found exclusively either in plants originating from the native (n = 10) or invasive (n = 2) range. Due to the known negative effects of many mono- and sesquiterpenes on various organisms, we propose that high concentrations of these secondary compounds accompanied by high chemotypic diversity may facilitate the invasion success of a plant species.     

Host specificity, establishment and dispersal of the gorse thrips, Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a biological control agent for gorse, Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae), in Australia

Sericothrips staphylinus was released as a biological control agent for Ulex europaeus in New Zealand and Hawaii following tests on ca. 80 plant species which showed it was narrowly oligophagous. To determine the suitability of S. staphylinus for release in Australia, further host specificity tests were conducted on 38 species and cultivars of Australian plants. These tests confirmed that S. staphylinus would feed only on U. europaeus in Australia and, following formal approval, was released in Tasmania during January 2001. To develop an optimal release strategy for S. staphylinus under Australian conditions, a field trial based on an earlier New Zealand study was conducted by replicating releases of 10, 30, 90, 270 and 810 adults. Results showed that population growth, reproduction rate and the number of S. staphylinus recovered 14 months after release can be non-linear functions of release size and establishment could be achieved with as few as 10 thrips. As S. staphylinus is easily cultured ca. 250 thrips were chosen as the minimum number for release because, based on a negative binomial model, this release size produced close to the maximum population growth. Surveys in early 2007 recovered S. staphylinus from 80% of 30 sites in Tasmania, the post release period ranging from 1 to 6 years. However, densities were low (<1 thrips/cm of tip growth) with no evidence of visible plant damage. The maximum dispersal range was 180–250 m after 38 months. At all the other sites, dispersal was estimated at less than 120 m. It is possible that S. staphylinus populations are still in the lag phase of their establishment before starting to increase rapidly and disperse. However, the survey results support a recent Tasmanian study which indicated that S. staphylinus is a sedentary, latent species characterised by steady densities and low levels of damage to its host plant. Its efficacy as a biological control agent on gorse may be restricted primarily by ‘bottom up’ effects of plant quality limiting its rate of natural increase and an inability of the thrips to reach large, damaging populations under field conditions.     

In vitro seed germination and cultivation of the aromatic medicinal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia stenophylla</Emphasis> (Burch. ex Benth.) provides an alternative source of α-bisabolol

The aromatic medicinal plant Salvia stenophylla contains α-bisabolol, making this plant an important contributor to the aromatherapy and cosmetic industries in South Africa. Due to its commercial importance, the cultivation of this plant using an in vitro system was considered. Firstly, seedlings were raised in vitro after breaking dormancy with light, smoke-water or chemical scarification treatments. Germination improved when seeds were smoke-treated or soaked in 70% (v/v) H₂SO₄. Vigorous plantlet regeneration was achieved when seedling explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium with 5.7 μM IAA and 8.9 μM BA. The potential regeneration capacity for this protocol was estimated and over 1,000 plantlets can be produced from a single shoot (6.67 cm with 4–6 nodes) over a period of 3 months. Plants rooted easily regardless of their growth medium. This was followed by their successful rapid establishment and normal growth out of culture (75%). Finally, the volatile compounds in in vitro plants were compared to ex vitro plants via headspace solid phase microextraction linked to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The chemical complexity of microplants was similar to wild plants with in vitro plants continuing to produce α-bisabolol (21%) at high levels.     

Sex change in the subdioecious shrub Eurya japonica (Pentaphylacaceae)

Sex change affects the sex ratios of plant populations and may play an essential role in the evolutionary shift of sexual systems. Sex change can be a strategy for increasing fitness over the lifetime of a plant, and plant size, environmental factors, and growth rate may affect sex change. We described frequent, repeated sex changes following various patterns in a subdioecious Eurya japonica population over five successive years. Of the individuals, 27.5% changed their sex at least once, and these changes were unidirectional or bidirectional. The sex ratio (females/males/all hermaphrodite types) did not fluctuate over the 5 years. In our study plots, although the current sex ratio among the sexes appears to be stable, the change in sex ratio may be slowly progressing toward increasing females and decreasing males. Sex was more likely to change with higher growth rates and more exposure to light throughout the year. Among individuals that changed sex, those that were less exposed to light in the leafy season and had less diameter growth tended to shift from hermaphrodite to a single sex. Therefore, sex change in E. japonica seemed to be explained by a response to the internal physiological condition of an individual mediated by intrinsic and abiotic environmental factors.     

Association between inbreeding depression and floral traits in a generalist‐pollinated plant

Individual variation in the magnitude of inbreeding depression (ID) in plants and its association with phenotypic traits may have important consequences for mating system evolution. This association has been investigated only scarcely, and always considering traits functionally related to autogamy. Here, we explore the association between individual variation in ID and plant traits associated with pollinator attractiveness (related to plant size, corolla size and corolla shape) in two populations of Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae). ID was calculated along the entire life cycle of the plants. In addition, we also explored the relationship between phenotypic traits and the individual levels of heterozygosity. We found significant associations between ID and corolla diameter and stalk height, being taller plants with larger corollas those undergoing a lower intensity of ID. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between corolla diameter and heterozygosity, suggesting that plants with large flowers have purged their genetic load. Finally, we found a significant effect of corolla diameter on the intrapopulation genetic structure. All these findings suggest that plants with large flowers have secularly suffered frequent inbreeding in the study populations. Because corolla diameter is a trait frequently selected by pollinators in E. mediohispanicum, we believe that the observed relationship between this trait and ID could be mediated by pollinators, probably throughout an increasing in biparental inbreeding, geitonogamy or autogamy.     

Root growth dynamics of Deyeuxia angustifolia seedlings in response to water level

A greenhouse experiment was performed to investigate root growth dynamics, plant growth, root porosity and root morphology of a marsh plant Deyeuxia angustifolia, one of the dominant species in the Sanjiang Plain, China. The aim of this study was to elucidate how this plant adjusts its root system to acclimate to different hydrological environments. Experimental treatments included three water depths: −5, 0 and 5 cm (relative to the soil surface). Biomass accumulation was higher in the −5 cm (0.90 g per plant) and 0 cm water-depth (1.18 g per plant) than that in the 5 cm water-depth treatments (0.66 g per plant), indicating that plant growth was inhibited in the high water level. Root:shoot ratio (0.67 versus 0.42–0.43), the length (16 cm versus 12–13 cm) and diameter of adventitious roots (0.47 mm versus 0.41 mm), and root number (167 versus 81–119 number of roots per plant) were higher in the 0 cm water-depth than those in the high and low water-depth treatments. Enhanced water level led to slightly increased porosity of main roots, but porosity was about 7% in all treatments. After 8 weeks, roots had been distributed into 14, 11 and 7 cm soil depth in the 0, −5 and 5 cm water-depth treatments, respectively, indicating that both high and low water levels led to shallow root systems. Our data suggest that D. angustifolia can adjust root morphology and root growth pattern according to water level, and that this plant has limited oxygen diffusion potential to the roots due to the reduced biomass in the high water level.     

Limited pollen-mediated dispersal and partial self-incompatibility in the rare ironstone endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetratheca paynterae</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">paynterae</Emphasis> increase the risks associated with habitat loss

Patterns of mating and dispersal are key factors affecting the dynamics, viability and evolution of plant populations. Changes in mating system parameters can provide evidence of anthropogenic impacts on populations of rare plants. Tetratheca paynterae subsp. paynterae is a critically endangered perennial shrub confined to a single ironstone range in Western Australia. Mining of the range removed 25% of plants in 2004 and further plants may be removed if the viability of the remaining populations is not compromised. To provide baseline genetic data for monitoring mining impacts, we characterised the mating system and pollen dispersal over two seasons in T. paynterae subsp. paynterae and compared mating system parameters with two other ironstone endemics, T. paynterae subsp. cremnobata and T. aphylla subsp. aphylla that were not impacted by mining. T. paynterae subsp. paynterae was the only taxon showing evidence of inbreeding (t _m = 0.89), although hand pollination revealed pre-zygotic self-incompatibility limits the production of seed from self-pollen. In a year of lower fruit set (2005), the estimate of correlated paternity increased from 20 to 35%. Direct estimates of realised pollen dispersal, made by paternity assignment in two small populations where all adult plants were genotyped, revealed a leptokurtic distribution with 30% of pollen dispersed less than 3 m and 90% less than 15 m. Restricted pollen dispersal maintains the strong genetic structuring of the adult populations in succeeding generations. As a consequence of preferential outcrossing, any reduction in effective population size, flowering plant density and/or the abundance and activity of pollinators may impact negatively on population viability through reduced seed set, increased inbreeding and increased correlated paternity.     

Gender, season and habitat: Patterns of variation in photosynthetic activity, growth and fecundity in Thymelaea velutina

Changes in the ecophysiological performance of a plant species due to different environmental conditions generally reflect adaptations to the habitat where the plant grows and are often related to its survival capacity in a particular place. We examined this with the dioecious shrub Thymelaea velutina, in two contrasting populations representing the extremes of the altitudinal gradient where the species lives (coastal dunes and mountain habitats over 1000 m). We measured net photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance, estimated the level of plant stress by chlorophyll fluorescence, and assessed their correlations with growth rate, plant size, flower production and fruit set. We hypothesized that plants at high altitude were more photosynthetically stressed than at sea level and expected a gender × habitat interaction in performance as females need more resources than males. Plants in the mountain experienced chronic photoinhibition during winter and a reduced photosynthetic performance both in winter and spring compared to plants in coastal dunes. However, there was no association between any of the fluorescence variables and either plant growth or fecundity, suggesting that other factors are involved determining performance. Mountain plants showed also an apparent lower capacity of heat dissipation to excessive radiation than dune plants. In the dunes, the greater leaf area and mass can lead to a higher photosynthetic carbon gain by whole individuals compared to plants in the mountain. No effect of gender was detected on the ecophysiological performance of this species, which we partly attribute to the small size of fruits of the female plants.     

Senescence in growth and reproductive allocation in a bunchgrass

• Senescence is a puzzling phenomenon. Few convincing studies of senescence in perennial herbaceous plants exist. While ramets are known to senesce, whether senescence of bunchgrasses actually occurs is not clear.
• In this study, we grew a set of plants of Elymus excelsus, a bunchgrass, to examine plant size, sexual reproduction and bud formation in individual plants in relation to their gradual ageing, in order to determine whether E. excelsus experiences senescence. We collected data in two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) from field samples of plants from 1 to 5 years old. Using regression models, we performed age‐related analyses of growth and reproduction parameters.
• Our results showed that individual plant size (diameter, individual biomass), total biomass of ramets, number and biomass of reproductive ramets, percentage of ramets that were reproductive, reproductive allocation, over‐wintering buds and juvenile ramets all declined with age. However, vegetative growth (number and biomass of vegetative ramets) did not decrease with age.
• Those plants that survived, dwindled in size as they aged. However, no plants shifted their resource allocation between growth and reproduction as they aged, so the shift in allocation did not account for the fall in size.

     

Tree age influences on the development of edible ectomycorrhizal fungi sporocarps in Pinus sylvestris stands

The study of factors influencing the production and development of wild edible mushroom sporocarps is extremely important in the characterization of the fungi life cycle. The main objective of this work is to determine how tree age influences the speed of sporocarp growth of edible ectomycorrhizal fungi Boletus edulis and Lactarius deliciosus in a Pinus sylvestris stand. This study is based on information recorded on a weekly basis every autumn between 1995 and 2008 in a set of permanent plots in Spain. Sporocarps are collected weekly, and as a result, specimens may not have reached their maximum size. The study area is a monospecific P. sylvestris stand. Three age classes were considered: under 30 years, between 31 and 70 years, and over 70 years. Sporocarps of B. edulis and L. deliciosus grow faster in the first age class stands than in the other two, and in the second age class stands, sporocarps are more than 50% smaller. The average weight of the picked B. edulis sporocarps clearly varies in the three age classes considered, with its maximum in the first age class (127 g and 6.8 cm cap diameter), minimum in the second age class (68 g and 4.7 cm cap diameter), and showing a relative maximum in the third (79 g and 4.3 cm cap diameter). L. deliciosus sporocarps are on average larger in the first age class (48 g and 7.4 cm cap diameter), decreasing in the second (20 g and 5.8 cm cap diameter) and also in the third (21 g and 5.3 cm cap diameter). The results show the influence of tree age in speed of sporocarp growth for the two ectomycorrhizal species.     

How does plant population density affect the biomass of Ravenna grass?

Ravenna grass, Tripidium ravennae (L.) H. Scholz, is known to produce an abundance of biomass, but how plant density affects its biomass potential remains unknown. The objectives were to determine the effects of plant density on biomass yield; plant growth traits; biomass?carbon, nitrogen, and ash concentrations; heating value; nitrogen removal; and sucrose concentration in leaves and culms. The treatments consisted of five plant densities (1,250; 2,500; 5,000; 10,000; and 20,000 plants per hectare) in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. Plots were nonirrigated, unfertilized, and harvested once during the dormant season each year. Data were collected from 2015?2019. Dependent variables that varied with plant population density (p < .05) were biomass yield, number of reproductive culms per plant, reproductive culm diameter, reproductive culm sucrose concentration, and nitrogen removal with biomass. Biomass yield ranged from 5.6 to 16.3 Mg/ha for plant densities of 1,250–20,000 plants per hectare, respectively. Combined over years, nonlinear regression of the data showed the equation for biomass yield to plateau at 16.2 Mg/ha at a plant density of 10,640 plants per hectare. As plant density increased, the number of reproductive culms per plant, culm diameter, and culm sucrose concentration significantly decreased. At 1,250 plants per hectare, the number of reproductive culms per plant, culm diameter, and culm sucrose averaged 70, 10.2 mm, and 63.2 g/kg, respectively. Nitrogen removed with biomass significantly increased as biomass yield increased with plant density. At a density of 10,000 and 20,000 plants per hectare, the amount of nitrogen removed annually in the harvested biomass averaged 88 kg/ha. The data suggest that 10,000 plants per hectare would produce the greatest annual biomass yields; however, research is needed to determine the nutrient requirement for Ravenna grass to sustain biomass production at that density.     

Population distributions of plant size and light environment of giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) at three densities

Summary Plots in a naturally occurring population of giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) near Ames, Iowa, USA were left unthinned (high density,=693 plants/m²) or were thinned in early June 1989 to create low and medium densities of 10 and 50 plants/m². Size and light environment of individual plants were measured at monthly intervals from June to September. By September, low density plants had 15 times greater biomass/plant and 30 times greater leaf area/plant than high density plants, although biomass and leaf area per unit land area decreased with decreasing density. Plants at high density allocated more biomass to stem growth, but plants at medium and low density had successively higher leaf area ratios, higher potential photosynthetic rates, higher allocation to leaves, and higher growth rates. Average light on leaves decreased with increasing density and also decreased over the growing season in the low and medium densities. The distribution of light environments of individual plants was non-normal and skewed to the left in most months, in contrast to the rightwards skew of distributions of plant size parameters. Inequality in the distributions, as measured by coefficient of variation and Gini coefficients, increased over most of the growing season. There was little effect of density on inequality of stem diameter, height, or estimated dry weight, but inequality in reproductive output greatly increased with density. There was greater inequality in number of staminate flowers produced than in number of pistillate flowers and seeds produced. Path analysis indicated that early plant size was the most important predictor of final plant size and reproductive output; photosynthesis, conductance, and light environment were also significantly correlated with size and reproduction but usually were of minor importance. Variation in growth rate apparently increased inequality in plant size at low density, whereas belowground competition and death of smaller plants may have limited increases in inequality at high density.     

Coalescence in wild organisms of the intertidal population of Lessonia berteroana in northern Chile: management and sustainability effects

Lessonia berteroana is the subject of 85 % of the total harvest of Chilean brown seaweeds, representing close to 10 % of total kelp biomass worldwide harvested for alginic acid extraction. Frequent incidence of coalescent holdfasts was detected in natural populations, and this process gives rise to fused sporophytes. This study presents the coalescence events in natural populations in northern Chile. During 2011, in natural intertidal populations, 435 target sporophytes of different sizes were observed weekly and 63.90 % (278) showed physical signs of coalescent disks. We were able to distinguish five fusion modes depending on the number and size of each of the participant sporophytes and their spatial distribution. There was a progressive decrease of density and an increase in the number of stipes of each sporophyte over time. Two processes were recognized: active fusion of juvenile sporophytes and passive fusion of adult and senescent sporophytes. However, most of the coalescence processes were detected in juvenile sporophytes with a holdfast diameter of 0.5 to 2 cm. The minimum distance between pairs of coalescing sporophytes was 0.5 cm, and the maximum distance was 13 cm. For good harvesting practices, it is recommended that plants with over 20 cm holdfast diameter are harvested from natural populations because over this size, all of the plants have reproduced. Coalescence events would produce plants with legal size requirement; however, these plant units would not be reproductive, affecting the sustainability of this important coastal resource.     

Strong regeneration ability from rhizome fragments in two invasive clonal plants (Solidagocanadensis and S. gigantea)

The two rhizomatous perennials Solidago canadensis and S. gigantea belong to the most widespread alien plants in Europe. Anecdotal observations suggest that they disperse also by rhizome fragments. For testing their resprouting ability, rhizome fragments of different sizes from both species were buried at four different soil depths (0, 5, 10 and 20 cm, respectively) in a common garden. Rhizome fragments of S. canadensis ranged 3–6 cm in length, those of S. gigantea 5–20 cm in length. Resprouting plants were harvested after 3 months and growth related traits measured to assess their vitality. Resprouting rate in S. gigantea was far higher than in S. canadensis (85 and 19%, respectively). In S. gigantea, fragments of all sizes resprouted from all soil depths whereas none rhizome of S. canadensis emerged from 20 cm burial depth. In S. gigantea, size related traits showed significant interactions between fragment size and burial depth, but not relative shoot growth rate. At all burial depths, vitality of plants emerging from small rhizomes was lower than plants emerging from large rhizomes. Effects of rhizome size became stronger with increasing burial depth. The results show that both species are able to resprout from buried rhizome fragments, and that succesful regeneration is more likely to occur in S. gigantea. Managing these species should avoid any activities promoting rhizome fragmentation and dispersal of fragments.     

Development and evaluation of novel salt‐tolerant Eucalyptus trees by molecular breeding using an RNA‐Binding‐Protein gene derived from common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.)

The breeding of plantation forestry trees for the possible afforestation of marginal land would be one approach to addressing global warming issues. Here, we developed novel transgenic Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) harbouring an RNA‐Binding‐Protein (McRBP) gene derived from a halophyte plant, common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). We conducted screened‐house trials of the transgenic Eucalyptus using two different stringency salinity stress conditions to evaluate the plants’ acute and chronic salt stress tolerances. Treatment with 400 mM NaCl, as the high‐stringency salinity stress, resulted in soil electrical conductivity (EC) levels >20 mS/cm within 4 weeks. With the 400 mM NaCl treatment, >70% of the transgenic plants were intact, whereas >40% of the non‐transgenic plants were withered. Treatment with 70 mM NaCl, as the moderate‐stringency salinity stress, resulted in soil EC levels of approx. 9 mS/cm after 2 months, and these salinity levels were maintained for the next 4 months. All plants regardless of transgenic or non‐transgenic status survived the 70 mM NaCl treatment, but after 6‐month treatment the transgenic plants showed significantly higher growth and quantum yield of photosynthesis levels compared to the non‐transgenic plants. In addition, the salt accumulation in the leaves of the transgenic plants was 30% lower than that of non‐transgenic plants after 15‐week moderate salt stress treatment. There results suggest that McRBP expression in the transgenic Eucalyptus enhances their salt tolerance both acutely and chronically.     

Evolution of tolerance in an invasive weed after reassociation with its specialist herbivore

The interaction between the European wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa and its coevolved florivore the parsnip webworm Depressaria pastinacella, established in North America for over 150 years, has resulted in evolution of local chemical phenotype matching. The recent invasion of New Zealand by webworms, exposing parsnips there to florivore selection for the first time, provided an opportunity to assess rates of adaptive response in a real‐time experiment. We planted reciprocal common gardens in the USA and NZ with seeds from (1) US populations with a long history of webworm association; (2) NZ populations that had never been infested and (3) NZ populations infested for 3 years (since 2007) or 6 years (since 2004). We measured impacts of florivory on realized fitness, reproductive effort and pollination success and measured phenotypic changes in infested NZ populations relative to uninfested NZ populations to determine whether rapid adaptive evolution in response to florivory occurred. Irrespective of country of origin or location, webworms significantly reduced plant fitness. Webworms reduced pollination success in small plants but not in larger plants. Although defence chemistry remained unchanged, plants in infested populations were larger after 3–6 years of webworm florivory. As plant size is a strong predictor of realized fitness, evolution of large size as a component of florivore tolerance may occur more rapidly than evolution of enhanced chemical defence.     

Different-sized oak trees are equally protected by the aphid-tending ants

Theoretical models predict that the ecological impacts of ants on plants will vary with the size of the plant, but experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis is lacking. Focusing on aphid-tending ants, Lasius fuliginosus, and host oak trees, Quercus liaotungensis, we surveyed the density of aphids on the leaves of different-sized trees and the relationship between the densities of aphids and ants on the leaves. We then evaluated the impacts of ants on small (diameter at breast height (DBH) < 5 cm) and large trees (DBH > 25 cm). The field survey showed that the density of ants on leaves was determined by the density of aphids and the latter was similar among different-sized trees; through an ant-exclusion treatment, we found that the impacts of ants on plants, aphids, caterpillars, and galls did not differ by the size of the tree. L. fuliginosus had a significant protective effect for Q. liaotungensis, but this effect did not convert to enhanced fruit production during the 2-year study period. Considering that size can be used as an indicator of a plant’s ontogenetic stage, our results indicate that with similar densities of aphids and, in turn, ants on their canopy, trees at early and later ontogenetic stages are equally protected by aphid-tending ants.