Insect Herbivores of Coccoloba cereifera Do Not Select Asymmetric Plants

• Published in: Environmental entomology Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 849 - 855
• Main Authors: Telhado, Cristina, Esteves, Daniela, Cornelissen, Tatiana, Fernandes, G. Wilson, Carneiro, Marco Antonio A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Abgrallaspis; Abgrallaspis cyanophylly; Animals; biological resistance; biomarkers; Coccoloba; Coccoloba cereifera; fluctuating asymmetry; Food Preferences; Hemiptera; herbivores; host preferences; host seeking; insect behavior; insect pests; leaves; plant characteristics; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - growth & development; plant pests; plant stress; plant-insect relations; Polygonaceae - growth & development; Polygonaceae - parasitology; shape; Stress, Physiological; validity; Brazil

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) represents small, random variations from the symmetric bilateral pattern, and it is a frequently used measurement of plant and animal stresses. Some studies have shown a relationship between FA and herbivory, suggesting that FA might be a reliable indicator of plant qualit...