The consequences of herbivory for dwarf fireweed: different time scales different morphological scales
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Authors: D. F. Doak
Date: 1991
Journal: Ecology
Volume: 72
Number: 4
Pages: 1397-1407
Summary of Methods: This three year study in Alaska examined the effects of caterpillar damage and simulated damage to dwarf fireweed plants during the growing season and between growing seasons. From June to early August in two week intervals damaged and undamaged shoots were collected to determine the shoot level responses to naturally occurring herbivory damage. Height of main stem, length of longest leaf on the main stem, length of longest leaf on main stem, length of longest branch, length of longest leaf on longest branch, number of branches greater than 1 cm long, and presence of any damage or disease were measured. Response of dwarf fire weed clumps subjected to three simulated treatments (no damaged, half of the shoots damaged or all shoots damaged) was measured.
Article Summary / Main Points: Plants attacked by the caterpillars compensated by producing more stems, however the shoots damaged by the insects would produce no seed pods. Net growth for a clump was reduced by >75% over three years, following one year of damage. Fireweed was not able to compensate as well to simulated damage compared to caterpillar herbivory. Overall, plants damaged either by the insect or by human simulation had lower total biomass and fewer shoots than plants not affected by herbivory or simulated treatment. Simulated herbivory reduced the amount of mammalian herbivory plants received.
Vegetation Types: Tundra
MLRA Ecoregions: 228 Interior Alaska Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Weeds Insects Herbivory
Article Review Type: refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: plant compensation, epilobium, mompha, insect damage, plant regrowth, plant morphology
Annotation: This replicated study and its results are sound, but the fact this research examined only insect damage and not large herbivores limits its relevence to this database.
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