Local adaptation of Ruellia nudiflora (Acanthaceae) to biotic counterparts: complex scenarios revealed when two herbivore guilds are considered |
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Authors: | I ORTEGÓN‐CAMPOS V PARRA‐TABLA L ABDALA‐ROBERTS C M HERRERA |
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Institution: | 1. Departamento de Ecología Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Yucatán, México;2. Estación Biológica de Do?ana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Sevilla, Spain |
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Abstract: | This study evaluated whether the herb Ruellia nudiflora is locally adapted to a specialist insect seed predator (SP) and insect folivores, and if plant local adaptation (LA) to the former is more likely. A reciprocal transplant experiment was conducted using three sites in Yucatan (Mexico) (n = 864 plants). A third of the plants of each origin were placed at each site, and we recorded the following during a 9‐month period: fruit number, leaf damage, and fruits attacked by SP. Results indicated lack of plant LA for all the variables measured. Instead, seed predation was c. 100% greater for native plants at one study site, suggesting insect LA or plant maladaptation; folivory was homogeneous across sites/origins. Based on these results, we discuss differences in the potential each herbivore guild has to promote plant LA, as well as divergent evolutionary outcomes of plant–herbivore interactions across sites. |
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Keywords: | folivory fruit production local adaptation Ruellia nudiflora seed predation spatial variation |
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