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Local adaptation of Ruellia nudiflora (Acanthaceae) to biotic counterparts: complex scenarios revealed when two herbivore guilds are considered
Author(s) -
ORTEGÓNCAMPOS I.,
PARRATABLA V.,
ABDALAROBERTS L.,
HERRERA C. M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01847.x
Subject(s) - biology , herbivore , guild , acanthaceae , adaptation (eye) , local adaptation , ecology , predation , maladaptation , plant ecology , botany , habitat , population , genetics , demography , neuroscience , sociology
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.