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Importance of species interactions to community heritability: a genetic basis to trophic-level interactions
Citation
Bailey, J and Wooley, SC and Lindroth, RL and Whitham, TG, Importance of species interactions to community heritability: a genetic basis to trophic-level interactions, Ecology Letters, 9, (1) pp. 78-85. ISSN 1461-023X (2006) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00844.x
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00844.x
Abstract
Recent community genetics studies have shown that specific genotypes of a host plant
support distinct arthropod communities. Building upon these findings, we examined the
hypothesis that a trophic community consisting of cottonwood trees, a galling herbivore
and avian predators could also be related to the genetics of the host tree. We found
genetic correlations among phytochemistry of individual tree genotypes, the density of a
galling herbivore, and the intensity of avian predation on these herbivores. We detected
significant broad-sense heritability of these interactions that range from HB2
= 0.70 to
0.83. The genetic basis of these interactions tended to increase across trophic levels
suggesting that small genetic changes in the cottonwood phenotype could have major
consequences at higher trophic levels affecting species interactions and energy flow.
These findings show a heritable basis to trophic-level interactions indicating that there is
a significant genetic basis to community composition and energy flow that is predictable
by plant genotype. Our data clearly link plant genetics to patterns of avian foraging and
show that species interactions are important components of community heritability and
ecosystem processes. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that evolution of plant
traits can alter trophic-level interactions and community composition.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | avian predation, community genetics, condensed tannins, ecosystem processes, energy flow, herbivory, heritability, Populus, trophic-level interactions |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Ecology not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Bailey, J (Associate Professor Joe Bailey) |
| ID Code: | 74478 |
| Year Published: | 2006 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 126 |
| Deposited By: | Research Division |
| Deposited On: | 2011-12-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-11-05 |
| Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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