TY - JOUR
AU - Root, Richard B.
AB - Most plant species are attacked by insects with widely different feeding styles and life histories. As a first step toward understanding how plants adapt to such diverse pressures, we investigated the population responses of 17 insect species to the genotypic variation exhibited by clones of goldenrods, Solidago altissima, that were drawn from the same population and grown in common gardens. A cluster analysis on the genetic correlations between the insects' responses produced four groups, termed "herbivore suites," that are attracted and repelled by similar plant genotypes (and their underlying sets of traits). There was no obvious correspondence of an insect's phylogenetic affinity, host range, or feeding style with its membership in a particular suite. Put another way, insects belonging to the same family or guild respond differently to genetically variable traits in populations of this native, perennial plant. We found no negative genetic correlations among suites and few among pairs of species, which suggests that trade—offs between the plant's resistance traits are relatively unimportant. The existence of suites of herbivores, whose members exhibit correlated patterns of abundance on different host genotypes, has several interesting consequences. First, the genetic variability of the plant population will be reflected in the diversity and composition of the insect community. Second, selection caused by one herbivore species can result in increased resistances to other, rarer species whose responses are correlated with those of the damaging species. Third, selection by suites of herbivores may be more intense and less variable than selection by individual insect species, especially when many species are rare. By recognizing that resistance can evolve as a function of selection by entire suites of species we can develop better estimates of selection and perhaps achieve a greater understanding of the process of diffuse coevolution. The linkage of interactions within suites suggests some unexplored possibilities for explaining the rarity of many insect species.
TI - Structure of the Encounter between Goldenrod (Solidago Altissima) and Its Diverse Insect Fauna
JF - Ecology
DO - 10.2307/1938625
DA - 1990-12-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/structure-of-the-encounter-between-goldenrod-solidago-altissima-and-630iUzvD4i
SP - 2115
EP - 2124
VL - 71
IS - 6
DP - DeepDyve
ER -