RT Journal Article
T1 Latitudinal variation in seed predation correlates with latitudinal variation in seed defensive and nutritional traits in a widespread oak species
A1 Moreira, X.
A1 Abdala-Roberts, L.
A1 Bruun, H.H.
A1 Covelo Núñez, Felisa
A1 De Frenne, P.
A1 Galmán, A.
A1 Gaytán, Á.
A1 Jaatinen, R.
A1 Pulkkinen, P.
A1 Ten Hoopen, J.P.J.G.
A1 Timmermans, B.G.H.
A1 Tack, A.J.M.
A1 Castagneyrol, B.
K1 Climate
K1 Curculio spp.,
K1 Phenolics
K1 Phosphorus
K1 Plant–Herbivore Interactions
K1 Quercus robur
AB • Background and Aims Classic theory on geographical gradients in plant–herbivore interactions assumes thatherbivore pressure and plant defences increase towards warmer and more stable climates found at lower latitudes.However, the generality of these expectations has been recently called into question by conflicting empiricalevidence. One possible explanation for this ambiguity is that most studies have reported on patterns of eitherherbivory or plant defences whereas few have measured both, thus preventing a full understanding of the implicationsof observed patterns for plant–herbivore interactions. In addition, studies have typically not measured climaticfactors affecting plant–herbivore interactions, despite their expected influence on plant and herbivore traits.• Methods Here we tested for latitudinal variation in insect seed predation and seed traits putatively associatedwith insect attack across 36 Quercus robur populations distributed along a 20° latitudinal gradient. We then furtherinvestigated the associations between climatic factors, seed traits and seed predation to test for climate-basedmechanisms of latitudinal variation in seed predation.• Key Results We found strong but contrasting latitudinal clines in seed predation and seed traits, whereby seedpredation increased whereas seed phenolics and phosphorus decreased towards lower latitudes. We also found astrong direct association between temperature and seed predation, with the latter increasing towards warmer climates.In addition, temperature was negatively associated with seed traits, with populations at warmer sites havinglower levels of total phenolics and phosphorus. In turn, these negative associations between temperature and seedtraits led to a positive indirect association between temperature and seed predation.• Conclusions These results help unravel how plant–herbivore interactions play out along latitudinal gradientsand expose the role of climate in driving these outcomes through its dual effects on plant defences and herbivores.Accordingly, this emphasizes the need to account for abiotic variation while testing concurrently for latitudinalvariation in plant traits and herbivore pressure.
PB Oxford University Press
YR 2020
FD 2020-05-08
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/21823
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/21823
LA en
NO Annals of Botany, 125: 881–890.
NO Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales
DS RIO
RD May 9, 2026