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Latitudinal Differences in Plant Palatability in Atlantic Coast Salt Marshes

2001; Wiley; Volume: 82; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2679994

1939-9170

Steven C. Pennings, Erin L. Siska, Mark D. Bertness,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

EcologyVolume 82, Issue 5 p. 1344-1359 Article LATITUDINAL DIFFERENCES IN PLANT PALATABILITY IN ATLANTIC COAST SALT MARSHES Steven C. Pennings, Steven C. Pennings University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 USA E-mail: scpenn@peachnet.campuscwix.netSearch for more papers by this authorErin L. Siska, Erin L. Siska University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 USA Present address: Sonoma State University, Department of Biology, 1801 East Cotai Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928 USA.Search for more papers by this authorMark D. Bertness, Mark D. Bertness Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 USASearch for more papers by this author Steven C. Pennings, Steven C. Pennings University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 USA E-mail: scpenn@peachnet.campuscwix.netSearch for more papers by this authorErin L. Siska, Erin L. Siska University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 USA Present address: Sonoma State University, Department of Biology, 1801 East Cotai Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928 USA.Search for more papers by this authorMark D. Bertness, Mark D. Bertness Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912 USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 May 2001 https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2001)082[1344:LDIPPI]2.0.CO;2Citations: 74 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract A central hypothesis of biogeography is that consumer–prey interactions are more intense at lower latitudes, leading to increased defenses of prey. Because plants vary in many traits that might affect palatability to herbivores, however, studies of latitudinal variation in single plant traits such as secondary chemistry provide only circumstantial evidence to test this hypothesis. We directly compared the palatability of 10 salt marsh plants from seven northern (Rhode Island and Maine) and eight southern (Georgia and Florida) coastal salt marshes by flying fresh plant material back and forth and allowing 13 species of herbivores direct choices between northern and southern conspecific plants in laboratory assays. In 127 of 149 assays (85%), herbivores showed a significant or marginally significant preference for northern plants. In only one assay did herbivores prefer southern plants. These results occurred regardless of the geographic location of the assay, herbivore species, year, or season of plant collection, although there were hints that latitudinal differences became less pronounced for two plant species late in the growing season. Our results provide the most comprehensive evidence to date for a latitudinal gradient in plant palatability in any community. The proximate plant traits and the ultimate evolutionary factors responsible for this pattern remain to be determined. Citing Literature Volume82, Issue5May 2001Pages 1344-1359 RelatedInformation