Journal article
Putting plant resistance traits on the map: A test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes
AT Moles, IR Wallis, WJ Foley, DI Warton, JC Stegen, AJ Bisigato, L Cella-Pizarro, CJ Clark, PS Cohen, WK Cornwell, W Edwards, R Ejrnæs, T Gonzales-Ojeda, BJ Graae, G Hay, FC Lumbwe, B Magaña-Rodríguez, BD Moore, PL Peri, JR Poulsen Show all
New Phytologist | Published : 2011
Abstract
It has long been believed that plant species from the tropics have higher levels of traits associated with resistance to herbivores than do species from higher latitudes. A meta-analysis recently showed that the published literature does not support this theory. However, the idea has never been tested using data gathered with consistent methods from a wide range of latitudes. We quantified the relationship between latitude and a broad range of chemical and physical traits across 301 species from 75 sites world-wide. Six putative resistance traits, including tannins, the concentration of lipids (an indicator of oils, waxes and resins), and leaf toughness were greater in high-latitude species...
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Funding Acknowledgements
G. Abeya, H. Bahamonde, A. Brandt, E. Chandler, T. Davids, A. Davidson, A. DeObaldia, S. Fayed, B. Fleischman, W. Hong, F. Jamangape, G. Jamangape, J. Keble-Williams, M. King, J. Angel Lopez Carmona, B. Martin, L. Mills, H. Molgaard, J. Gustavo Namen, L. Nugent, H. Nzuza, T. Reilly, L. Resendiz Davila, A. Sagal, G. Schneeweiss, S. Shen, R. Sinclair, J. Strand, A. Tabic, M. Tadey, K. Webeck and T. Yong gathered field data. A. Beattie, W. Bond, S. Bonser, J. Cooke, P. Coley, H. Meltofte and N. Pitman gave organizational help and/or comments. The project was supported by an ARC discovery grant to A. T. M. and P. D. Coley, and grants to A. T. M. from Victoria University of Wellington, UNSW, the Amazon Conservation Association and Australian Geographic. J. C. S. and B. J. E. were supported by an NSF CAREER Award to B. J. E., M. M. R. was supported by CONACYT Mexico, and R. V. was supported by the Claude Leon Foundation. Abisko Naturvetenskapliga Station and Xishuangbanna Station for Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Studies provided accommodation and logistical support. Two sites were studied under the Master Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation CONICET-Macquarie.