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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Plant-Insect Interactions : Factors influencing herbivory rates in Sorbus aucuparia, Salix herbacea, and Lactuca sibirica

Lundgren, Fanny January 2024 (has links)
Plants and insects have been interacting with each other for millions of years which have resulted in a coevolution, forcing both to maximize their fitness and not to be left behind in the race of survival. Insects select which individuals to graze on based on plant qualities that enhance their fitness, yet the factors influencing their choice remain understudied. This study aimed to elucidate why certain plant individuals suffer higher rates of herbivory within populations. Three plant species from different habitats in Scandinavia were surveyed: Sorbus aucuparia (rowan), Salix herbacea (dwarf willow), and Lactuca sibirica (Siberian lettuce). Using standardized protocols from the Herbivory Variability Network, 30 plant individuals were randomly selected in each site and surveyed for herbivore damage. Additionally, data were collected on the nearest neighbor of each plant (representing the same species), resulting in a total of 60 surveyed plants. Results revealed varied herbivory patterns among the species, indicating differential influences of plant size, growth stage, and neighboring plants on herbivory rates. An association between leaf and berry herbivory was found, suggesting that berries are less likely to sustain damage when leaves are already damaged. It suggests that trees retaining undamaged leaves are more proficient in photosynthetic processes and, thus capable of synthesizing berries enriched with higher concentrations of sugars and essential nutrients making them more attractive to insects. There is reason to believe that chemical defenses within the plants play an important role in the result seen in this study. This result provides insight into the behavior of insects, highlighting the complexity of plant-insect interactions and the need for further research to understand the factors driving herbivory patterns.

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