title: How does plant chemical diversity contribute to biodiversity at higher trophic levels?
abstract: Plants, perhaps Earth's most accomplished chemists, produce thousands of specialized metabolites having no direct role in cell division or growth. These phytochemicals vary by taxon, with many taxa producing characteristic substance classes; and within taxa, with individual variation in structural variety and production patterns. Observations of corresponding variation in herbivore metabolism, behavior, and diet breadth motivated the development of chemical ecology research. We discuss the importance of plant biodiversity in general and phytochemical diversity in particular for biodiversity and ecological interactions at higher trophic levels. We then provide an overview of the descriptive, molecular and analytical tools which allow modern biologists to investigate phytochemical diversity and its effects on higher trophic levels, from physiological mechanisms to ecological communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: mschuman@ice.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schuman
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for Ecology, Jena, Germany; Molecular Interaction Ecology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University, PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.affiliation: Research Group Sequestration and Detoxification in Insects, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beran
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Universitätsplatz 10, 06108 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: W Stanley
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Harpole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D020387:Food Chain; D060434:Herbivory; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals