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Secondary metabolites and nutrients of woody plants in relation to browsing intensity in African savannas.
- Source :
-
Oecologia . Dec2011, Vol. 167 Issue 4, p1063-1073. 11p. 1 Diagram, 5 Charts, 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Carbon-based secondary metabolites (CBSMs) are assumed to function as defences that contribute to herbivore-avoidance strategies of woody plants. Severe browsing has been reported to reduce concentrations of CBSMs and increase N concentrations in individual plants, causing heavily browsed plants to be characterised by N-rich/C-poor tissues. We hypothesised that concentrations of condensed tannins (CT) and total polyphenols (TP) should decrease, or N increase, in relation to increasing intensity of browsing, rendering severely browsed plants potentially more palatable (increased N:CT) and less N-limited (increased N:P) than lightly browsed ones. We sampled naturally browsed trees (taller than 2 m) of four abundant species in southern Kruger National Park, South Africa. Species-specific relationships between N:CT, CT, TP and P concentrations and increasing browsing intensity were detected, but N and N:P were consistently invariable. We developed a conceptual post-hoc model to explain diverse species-specific CBSM responses on the basis of relative allocation of C to total C-based defence traits (e.g. spines/thorns, tough/evergreen leaves, phenolic compounds). The model suggests that species with low allocation of C to C-based defence traits become C-limited (potentially more palatable) at higher browsing intensity than species with high allocation of C to C-based defences. The model also suggests that when N availability is high, plants become C-limited at higher browsing intensity than when N availability is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *CARBON
*METABOLITES
*HERBIVORES
*WOODY plants
*TANNINS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00298549
- Volume :
- 167
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Oecologia
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 67128158
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2042-9