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The Evolution Of Mutualistic Defense Traits In Plants

Author
Weber, Marjorie
Abstract
Plant traits that mediate mutualistic interactions as a mode of defense are pervasive, have originated independently many times within angiosperms, and are highly variable across taxa. My dissertation research examines the evolutionary ecology of two common plant traits that mediate defense mutualisms in plants: extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), plant organs that secrete small volumes of nectar, thereby attracting predacious arthropods to leaves, and (2) leaf domatia, small structures on the undersides of leaves that provide housing for predacious or fungivorous mites. Because traits like EFNs and domatia influence multiple trophic levels, their evolution can have strong impacts on community dynamics relative to other plant characters. Nonetheless, studies that directly link the ecological effects of these traits with their evolutionary dynamics are rare.
Date Issued
2014-08-18Subject
Defense mutualisms; plant-insect interactions; Evolutionary ecology
Committee Chair
Agrawal, Anurag
Committee Member
Geber, Monica Ann; Lovette, John I; Donoghue, Michael; Greene, Harry W.
Degree Discipline
Ecology
Degree Name
Ph. D., Ecology
Degree Level
Doctor of Philosophy
Type
dissertation or thesis