Putting plant resistance traits on the map: a test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes

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dc.contributor.authorHay, G.
dc.contributor.authorFacelli, J.
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractIt 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. Six traits, including cyanide production and the presence of spines, were unrelated to latitude. Only ash content (an indicator of inorganic substances such as calcium oxalates and phytoliths) and the properties of species with delayed greening were higher in the tropics. Our results do not support the hypothesis that tropical plants have higher levels of resistance traits than do plants from higher latitudes. If anything, plants have higher resistance toward the poles. The greater resistance traits of high-latitude species might be explained by the greater cost of losing a given amount of leaf tissue in low-productivity environments.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAngela T. Moles... Gregory Hay... Jose M. Facelli... et al.
dc.identifier.citationNew Phytologist, 2011; 191(3):777-788
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03732.x
dc.identifier.issn0028-646X
dc.identifier.issn1469-8137
dc.identifier.orcidFacelli, J. [0000-0002-0408-0082]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/67058
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd
dc.relation.grantARC
dc.rightsCopyright 2011 The Authors. New Phytologist Copyright 2011 New Phytologist Trust
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03732.x
dc.subjectglobal patterns
dc.subjectlatitude
dc.subjectleaf size
dc.subjectleaf toughness
dc.subjectlipid
dc.subjectplant traits
dc.subjectplant–animal interactions
dc.subjecttannin
dc.titlePutting plant resistance traits on the map: a test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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