Drought‐induced reductions in plant defenses: Insights from extrafloral nectaries in the Caatinga dry forest

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are anti‐herbivory defense‐related glands. We measured morphological and anatomical EFN traits in Pityrocarpa moniliformis trees along a rainfall gradient in Caatinga dry forest. We observed a reduction in structural EFN traits as rainfall decreased. We conclude that thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBiotropica Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 12 - 17
Main Authors Câmara, Talita, Reis, Daniela Queiroz de Assis, Arnan, Xavier, Oliveira, Fernanda Maria Pereira, Arruda, Emília Cristina Pereira, Leal, Inara Roberta
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2022
Subjects
ant–plant interactions
Drought
Dry forests
Extrafloral nectaries
facultative mutualism
Glands
Herbivory
indirect defense
intraspecific trait variation
phenotypic plasticity
precipitation
Rain
Rainfall
resource availability hypothesis
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Summary:Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are anti‐herbivory defense‐related glands. We measured morphological and anatomical EFN traits in Pityrocarpa moniliformis trees along a rainfall gradient in Caatinga dry forest. We observed a reduction in structural EFN traits as rainfall decreased. We conclude that this reduction is a cost‐saving strategy, probably mediated by ants. Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are anti‐herbivory defense‐related glands. We measured morphological and anatomical EFN traits in Pityrocarpa moniliformis trees along a rainfall gradient in Caatinga dry forest. We observed a reduction in structural EFN traits as rainfall decreased.
Bibliography:Associate Editor: Jennifer Powers
Handling Editor: Luis Abdala‐Roberts
ISSN:0006-3606
1744-7429
DOI:10.1111/btp.13041