The altitudinal niche breadth hypothesis in plant-insect interaction

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_789DFCACCCC5
Type
A part of a book
Publication sub-type
Chapter: chapter ou part
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The altitudinal niche breadth hypothesis in plant-insect interaction
Title of the book
Plant Insect Interactions
Author(s)
Rasmann S., Alvarez N., Pellissier L.
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Address of publication
Oxford
ISBN
978-0-470-67036-1
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2014
Editor
Voelckel C., Jander G.
Volume
47
Series
Annual Plant Reviews
Chapter
10
Pages
339-360
Language
english
Abstract
Studies aiming at explaining specialization along latitudinal gradients of plant-herbivore interactions have, to date, yielded inconclusive results. Here we propose the use of steep altitudinal gradients for dissecting factors driving evolution of polyphagy in insect herbivores. First, we test whether colonization of high elevation environment favours increased niche-breadth in two disparate insect groups - the wood-boring beetles and the pollinator group of bees - and show increased polyphagy at higher altitudes in both groups. We then assess classic assumptions transferred from the 'latitude-niche-breadth hypothesis', particularly the increase in environmental variability at high, compared to low, altitude. Finally, we discuss alternative mechanisms shaping the observed pattern of increased polyphagy in altitude, including variation in plant quality and predator pressure at different altitudes. We thus suggest evidence for the 'altitude niche-breadth hypothesis', in which both abiotic and biotic conditions, including increased variability and an increase of the potential feeding niche-breadth, promote evolution for increased insect polyphagy in altitude.
Keywords
Altitudinal gradient, Apiformes, Buprestidae, climatic variability, oligolectic species, oligophagy, plant-herbivore interaction, plant-pollinator interaction, polylectic species, polyphagy
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Create date
28/11/2011 15:30
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:35
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