Ecological aspects on induced defenses in macroalgae by mesoherbivore attacks
Date Issued
2011-01-27
Author(s)
Supervisors
Referees
Abstract
This dissertation highlights the ability of macroalgae to protect themselves by inducing their palatability changes in the face of consumer attacks. In particular, I examined how macroalgae change their chemical traits in response to herbivore properties classified by herbivore specificity, temporal variation of the herbivores, and feeding cues. Further, I tested macroalgae can predict the herbivory and induce defenses by the cues from an attacked conspecific and a heterospecific species. Finally, I investigated the effective magnitude of the induced responses using non-native macroalgae as well as species-specificity of herbivores. These approaches support that herbivore-induced defenses are not accidental reactions but adaptive options of plants through coevolved history with specific herbivores.
Subjects
herbivore-induced responses
;
herbivore cues
;
temporal variation
;
coevolution
;
trait-mediated indirect interaction
;
macroalgal herbivore interaction
Institution
Type
Dissertation
Secondary publication
No
Language
English
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00101892-1.pdf
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