Non-additive effects of herbivores and pollinators on Erysimum mediohispanicum (Cruciferae) fitness.
In this study, the non-additivity of effects of herbivores and pollinator on fitness of the plant Erysimum mediohispanicum (Cruciferae) has been experimentally tested. The abundance and diversity of the pollinator assemblage of plants excluded from and exposed to mammalian herbivores, and the combined effect of pollinators and herbivores on plant reproduction were determined over a period of 2 years. Pollinator abundance was higher and diversity was lower on plants excluded from herbivores. Furthermore, the experimental exclusions demonstrated that both pollinators and herbivores affected plant fitness, but their effects were not independent. Herbivores only had a detrimental effect on plant fitness when pollinators were present. Similarly, pollinators enhanced fitness only when herbivores were excluded. This outcome demonstrates that the importance of pollinators for plant fitness depends on the occurrence of herbivores, and suggests that herbivores may hamper pollinator-mediated adaptation in plants.
Gómez
José M
JM
Dpto Biología Animal y Ecología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain. jmgreyes@ugr.es
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D032601:Erysimum / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D020387:Food Chain; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D011058:Pollen; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013030:Spain