Perfect is best: low leaf fluctuating asymmetry reduces herbivory by leaf miners

Oecologia
Tatiana Cornelissen, P Stiling

Abstract

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) represents small, random variation from symmetry and can be used as an indicator of plant susceptibility to herbivory. We investigated the effects of FA of two oak species, Quercus laevis and Q. geminata, and the responses of three herbivore guilds: leaf miners, gallers, and chewers. To examine differences in FA and herbivory between individuals, 40 leaves from each tree were collected, and FA indices were calculated. To examine differences in FA and herbivory within-individuals, we sampled pairs of mined and unmined leaves for asymmetry measurements. Differences in growth of leaf miners between leaf types were determined by tracing 50 mines of each species on symmetric leaves and asymmetric leaves. Asymmetric leaves contained significantly lower concentrations of tannins and higher concentrations of nitrogen than symmetric leaves for both plant species. Both frequency of asymmetric leaves on plants and levels of asymmetry positively influenced the abundance of Brachys, Stilbosis and other leaf miners, but no significant relationship between asymmetry and herbivory was observed for Acrocercops. Brachys and Stilbosis mines were smaller on asymmetric leaves, but differences in mine survivorship between ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 17, 2010·Environmental Entomology·Cristina TelhadoMarco Antonio A Carneiro
Mar 12, 2005·The New Phytologist·Q C B Cronk
Sep 20, 2012·Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasleira De Biologia·M N IshinoM N Rossi
Apr 8, 2021·Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasleira De Biologia·W A Chiba de CastroC K Peres

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