Article
Ecology
Cindy Perkovich, David Ward
Summary: Plant-herbivore interactions play a crucial role in the biodiversity of ecosystems. This study investigates the defensive strategies employed by swamp white oak against insects and large mammals. The results show that plant defense strategies vary spatially on individual trees, and the presence of different herbivores can affect the composition of plant defenses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruben D. Manzanedo, Aji John, Meera L. Sethi, Elli J. Theobald, Berry Brosi, Joshua Jenkins, Ava Kloss-Schmidt, Emilia Lia, Annie Schiffer, Jordana Sevigny, Anna Wilson, Yonit Yogev, Janneke Hille Ris Lambers
Summary: This study presents a long-term and high-resolution phenological dataset from 17 wildflower species, which were collected as part of the MeadoWatch community science project. The dataset is of high quality and reliability, making it suitable for ecological research.
Article
Plant Sciences
Karen E. Rice, Rebecca A. Montgomery, Artur Stefanski, Roy L. Rich, Peter B. Reich
Summary: Herbaceous perennials showed species-specific responses to experimental warming and reduced summer rainfall, with some species advancing flowering while others delayed it. Changes in phenology led to differences in temporal overlap between species, potentially resulting in fewer resources for insects or a mismatch between plants and pollinators.
Article
Ecology
Birgit Nordt, Isabell Hensen, Solveig Franziska Bucher, Martin Freiberg, Richard B. Primack, Albert-Dieter Stevens, Aletta Bonn, Christian Wirth, Desiree Jakubka, Carolin Plos, Maria Sporbert, Christine Roemermann
Summary: Changes in phenology due to climate change have significant implications for ecosystem functioning and biodiversity, especially in herbaceous species. The PhenObs initiative aims to use botanical gardens as a global network for observing plant phenology to better understand and predict the effects of global change on plant species and ecosystem processes.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xinyang Wang, Xavier Morin, Jian Zhang, Guoke Chen, Lingfeng Mao, Yuheng Chen, Zhuqiu Song, Yanjun Du, Keping Ma
Summary: Biodiversity is an important issue in ecological research and is generally highest in tropical regions. By studying reproductive phenology data of over 20,000 plant species in China, we found that the duration of reproductive phenology decreased with latitude, with temperature seasonality playing a significant role in woody plant phenology.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Himani Ashra, Suresh Nair
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity is an important adaptive mechanism that allows organisms to respond to environmental changes. In the context of plant-insect interactions, phenotypic plasticity plays a crucial role and can be modulated by the associations with microbial communities. Understanding the impact of phenotypic plasticity on these interactions provides insights into the co-evolution of plants and insects.
Review
Plant Sciences
Elena Hamann, Cameron Blevins, Steven J. Franks, M. Inam Jameel, Jill T. Anderson
Summary: Elevated temperatures, CO2 concentrations, drought stress, and nutrient conditions induce greater food consumption by herbivores. These factors also have direct and indirect effects on herbivore development.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sukhman Singh, Ishveen Kaur, Rupesh Kariyat
Summary: The paper discusses the role of polyphenols in plant-insect interactions and plant defenses, covering their structure, induction, regulation, anti-feeding, and toxicity effects. It delves into the mechanisms and localization of these compounds in the context of insect-plant interactions, current research findings, and potential avenues for future research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tserang Donko Mipam, Fei Chen, Liming Tian, Pei Zhang, Mengjiao Huang, Lifan Chen, Xingxing Wang, Peng Zhang, Ziyuan Lin, Xiang Liu
Summary: This study examined the effects of yak grazing on foliar fungal diseases in an alpine meadow ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that grazing influenced the prevalence of these diseases through the evenness and composition of the plant community. This study highlights the importance of considering host plant community characteristics in disease load prediction frameworks.
Article
Ecology
Alicia Valdes, Johan Ehrlen
Summary: The study found that selection on flowering time in plants is influenced by multiple factors, including climatic conditions and the intensity of plant-animal interactions. Antagonistic plant-animal interactions were found to have significant effects on plant fitness and selection for flowering time, with climate change potentially mediating these effects indirectly.
Review
Ecology
William C. Wetzel, Brian D. Inouye, Philip G. Hahn, Susan R. Whitehead, Nora Underwood
Summary: Plants and herbivores exhibit significant variability in space and time. Research on variability expands our understanding of plant-herbivore ecology and evolution, leading to new hypotheses and insights into the distribution of herbivory.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Veronica Iriart, Regina S. Baucom, Tia-Lynn Ashman
Summary: Herbicide drift can significantly affect plant growth and reproduction, potentially impacting plant-plant competitive dynamics and interactions with pollinators.
Article
Forestry
Qianhuai Xue, Xiu Zeng, Yanjun Du, Wenxing Long
Summary: The timing of flowering and fruiting is crucial for the reproduction, population size, and range of fruit-eating animals. A regression analysis was conducted to understand the impact of climate on the timing and availability of fruits for the endangered Hainan gibbon in China. Significant seasonal and inter-annual variations were observed in the reproductive phenology of fruiting species, with severe food scarcity for the gibbons between January and April. Sunshine affected flowering time, while temperature influenced fruiting phenology. The restoration of gibbon habitat should include planting fruit trees that bear fruit during the low food availability period from January to April.
Review
Plant Sciences
Shaoqun Zhou, Georg Jander
Summary: Plant-derived volatile organic compounds play key roles in interactions with insect herbivores, acting as toxic or deterrent agents, signal molecules, and priming signals for plant tissues. The functions of VOC blends are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and specific plant-insect interactions. The complexity of plant-insect chemical communication via VOCs is enriched by the sophisticated molecular perception mechanisms of insects, which influence insect behavior in ways that are not fully understood.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giselle Muschett, Francisco E. Fonturbel
Summary: This study compiled information on pollinators, flower visitors, and plant-pollinator interactions in Chile to contribute to the agricultural industry and unique biodiversity of the country. The database created provides the first systematic information on pollination in Chile, which can be used for future studies and conservation strategies for pollinators.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anna R. Armitage, Carolyn A. Weaver, Ashley A. Whitt, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: The study found that woody encroachment of mangroves into coastal wetlands can lead to a decrease in plant species richness and changes in animal assemblages, with certain species being more common in areas without mangroves. Results were consistent with a previous manipulative experiment, indicating mangroves have significant impacts on associated plant and animal communities as woody encroachment continues and mangrove cover increases.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jane M. Lucas, Jayne Jonas, Angela N. Laws, David H. Branson, Steven C. Pennings, Chelse M. Prather, Michael S. Strickland
Summary: This study examined the interactions between herbivore species and functional diversity with nutrient availability in shaping above- and below-ground ecosystems. Results showed that herbivores affected plant biomass, richness, and soil microbial communities, and interactions with fertilizer influenced below-ground carbon availability and microbial biomass. The effects of herbivore diet and taxonomic composition on ecosystems highlight the importance of considering multiple diversity metrics in studies of herbivore-mediated effects.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Wenwen Liu, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: This study explored the importance of plant species and different habitat conditions to synchrony in plant productivity across coastal marsh habitats in Georgia, USA. Synchrony was highest within a plant species and within a marsh zone, and decreased across species with increasing distance and elevational differences. Abiotic conditions, such as water column temperature and salinity, also showed high synchrony among sites, pointing to the Moran effect as a likely explanation for the findings.
Article
Ecology
Ryan W. Reihart, Kiersten P. Angelos, Kaitlin M. Gawkins, Shania E. Hurst, Denise C. Montelongo, Angela N. Laws, Steven C. Pennings, Chelse M. Prather
Summary: Nitrogen and phosphorus are considered the most important limiting nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems, while micronutrients such as calcium and potassium may play a significant role in structuring grassland arthropod communities. Different combinations of macronutrients and micronutrients have varying effects on arthropod abundance, and some combinations can have toxic or stressful effects on arthropod communities.
Article
Ecology
Xincong Chen, Wenwen Liu, Steven C. Pennings, Yihui Zhang
Summary: The study on the invasive grass Spartina alterniflora along the coast of China found that the flowering phenology exhibited a pattern that was influenced by latitude, with plants at different latitudes flowering at different times. The research results suggest a high degree of plasticity in flowering phenology, with variations in factors such as climate and oceanographic variables affecting the timing of flowering. Additionally, the study indicated some selection for earlier flowering at sites with low temperatures and highlighted the importance of environmental conditions in shaping the flowering patterns of the invasive species.
Article
Limnology
Fengrun Wu, Steven C. Pennings, Collin Ortals, Jennifer Ruiz, W. Reilly Farrell, Samuel M. McNichol, Christine Angelini, Amanda C. Spivak, Merryl Alber, Chunfu Tong
Summary: The study on perturbation caused by headward-eroding creeks in salt marshes revealed that different variables responded to and recovered from the disturbance in diverse ways. Plants recovered before soils and snails. Disturbance magnitude and time to recovery were often influenced by the proximity to the new creekbank, with some variables never converging with control values.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Franziska K. Seer, Gregor Putze, Steven C. Pennings, Martin Zimmer
Summary: The abundance of most taxa of the litter fauna primarily depends on habitat, while litter type becomes a stronger driver for some taxa over time. Decomposition rates also strongly depend on habitat, with up to approximately 80% of the initial detrital mass lost over 25 months in marsh and forest habitats. Litter types become more similar with time, and habitat becomes the dominating factor in determining decomposition of older litter.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Amanda L. Kuhn, John S. Kominoski, Anna R. Armitage, Sean P. Charles, Steven C. Pennings, Carolyn A. Weaver, Tom R. Maddox
Summary: The study found that Hurricane Harvey had impacts on surface sediment accretion, soil chemistry, and root biomass in coastal wetlands. Post-hurricane, there was a significant reduction in root biomass in both marsh and mangrove cells, which was correlated with enhanced nutrient limitation, potentially affecting ecosystem function and increasing vulnerability to disturbances.
Article
Ecology
Dan Peng, Denise C. Montelongo, Leslie Wu, Anna R. Armitage, John S. Kominoski, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: As global change alters ecosystems, the importance of subsidies from one habitat to another may change. This study manipulated black mangrove cover and found that increasing mangrove cover decreases the relative importance of marine subsidies into the intertidal at the plot level, but concentrates subsidies at the front edge of the mangrove stand. Storms may temporarily override mangrove attenuation of subsidies. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of changes in plant species composition on marine subsidies and exchanges among ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fan Li, Christine Angelini, James E. Byers, Christopher Craft, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: This study shows that tidal freshwater marsh plant and animal communities are vulnerable to long-term salinity changes but resilient to short saline pulses. While saline pulses did not impair most ecosystem functions, the decline of a single species in the pulse treatment was associated with reduced marsh accretion and no elevation gain, which are crucial for wetland survival in an era of rising seas.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
John S. Kominoski, Carolyn A. Weaver, Anna R. Armitage, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: Changes in dominant plant species following a hurricane can affect carbon processing in coastal wetlands. Despite declines in soil nutrients, post-hurricane carbon processing increased with mangrove cover.
Article
Entomology
Tianjiao Adams, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: Both dietary protein and sodium are important for the growth and reproduction of insect herbivores, and their interaction can enhance cockroach growth rate and offspring weight.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Ming Nie, Wenwen Liu, Steven C. Pennings, Bo Li
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alyssa C. Hockaday, Anna R. Armitage, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: Ecologists use different methods to study interspecific competition and the results may vary. In this study conducted in Texas, USA, we compared four methods to examine the competitive interactions between black mangroves and salt marsh plants. Mangroves were found to strongly suppress the cover and biomass of salt marsh plants, but the strength of these interactions varied depending on the method used, plant species studied, and spatial scale considered.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan Peng, Hongyu Guo, Anna R. Armitage, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: This study conducted the first experimental research on intraspecific competition among adult mangroves in a natural forest, indicating that despite being limited by abiotic conditions, scrub mangroves exhibit strong competition. The importance of competition outweighs the abiotic differences between the fringe and interior.
JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY
(2022)