Plant defences are those mechanisms employed by plants in response to herbivory and parasitism. According to Hanley et al. (2007), “the tissues of virtually all terrestrial, freshwater, and marine plants have qualities that to some degree reduce herbivory, including low nitrogen concentration, low moisture content, toxins or digestibility-reducing compounds”. The type of chemical defence may be species specific (Scott 2008). The defences that plants possess may be in the form of chemical production
Knowledge on the Topic: Before exploring further research into the topic of the goldenrod gallfly Eurosta solidaginis, the current knowledge on the research topic must be explored. The goldenrod gallfly Eurosta solidaginis is a parasite on goldenrod plants (D. Crowe, personal communication, 2013). Very small (approximately five millimeters), the adult flies are very clumsy and are very poor fliers. Adult goldenrod gallflies live for approximately two weeks, making their life all about reproduction
middle of paper ... ...seal pups are leaner and slimmer because their prey are migrating into colder water. Also due to global warming and the high carbon dioxide rate with the air, plants are absorbing the toxin and using it as a defense against herbivory. There are caterpillars that turn into moths that eat the plants as a food source, in turn “a University of Rhode Island student found evidence that suggests some songbirds may avoid eating insects that consume leaves exposed to high levels of carbon
Ants and aphids are two highly common and successful insect groups that often occur in the same habitats which greatly increases their chances of interacting with one another (Stadler and Dixon 2005). The outcome of these interactions can be either negative (predatory) or positive (mutualistic) depending on what each partner can offer to the other (Stadler and Dixon 2005). Mutualism is defined as an interaction between two species that has a reciprocal positive effect on the overall fitness of both
from northern Texas to central Argentina. These ants are injurious since they cut the green vegetation from trees, shrubs and crops, and carry it into the nest, where they cultivate fungi on it. They have been known to denude a tree or ornamental plants in one night. It has been estimated they do $1 billion damage per year in North and South America today, these ants still cause millions of dollars in crop losses in many South American countries. Although primarily an agricultural pest, this insect