| Title |
Genetic variation in plant volatile emission does not result in differential attraction of natural enemies in the field
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Oecologia, October 2013
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00442-013-2787-4 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Elizabeth L. Wason, Mark D. Hunter |
| Abstract |
Volatile organic chemical (VOC) emission by plants may serve as an adaptive plant defense by attracting the natural enemies of herbivores. For plant VOC emission to evolve as an adaptive defense, plants must show genetic variability for the trait. To date, such variability has been investigated primarily in agricultural systems, yet relatively little is known about genetic variation in VOCs emitted by natural populations of native plants. Here, we investigate intraspecific variation in constitutive and herbivore-induced plant VOC emission using the native common milkweed plant (Asclepias syriaca) and its monarch caterpillar herbivore (Danaus plexippus) in complementary field and common garden greenhouse experiments. In addition, we used a common garden field experiment to gauge natural enemy attraction to milkweed VOCs induced by monarch damage. We found evidence of genetic variation in the total constitutive and induced concentrations of VOCs and the composition of VOC blends emitted by milkweed plants. However, all milkweed genotypes responded similarly to induction by monarchs in terms of their relative change in VOC concentration and blend. Natural enemies attacked decoy caterpillars more frequently on damaged than on undamaged milkweed, and natural enemy visitation was associated with higher total VOC concentrations and with VOC blend. Thus, we present evidence that induced VOCs emitted by milkweed may function as a defense against herbivores. However, plant genotypes were equally attractive to natural enemies. Although milkweed genotypes diverge phenotypically in their VOC concentrations and blends, they converge into similar phenotypes with regard to magnitude of induction and enemy attraction. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | 1 | 33% |
| Unknown | 2 | 67% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Scientists | 1 | 33% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 33% |
| Members of the public | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 72 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4 | 6% |
| Spain | 1 | 1% |
| Slovenia | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown | 66 | 92% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 18 | 25% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 15 | 21% |
| Student > Master | 8 | 11% |
| Student > Bachelor | 6 | 8% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 7% |
| Other | 9 | 13% |
| Unknown | 11 | 15% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 46 | 64% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 8% |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 7% |
| Unspecified | 1 | 1% |
| Arts and Humanities | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown | 10 | 14% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 09 February 2018.
All research outputs
#15,167,432
of 23,327,904 outputs
Outputs from Oecologia
#3,206
of 4,268 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#125,306
of 210,031 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Oecologia
#24
of 52 outputs
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