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Notes
- Abstract:
- The consequences of intraspecific variation in prey traits for plant−herbivore interactions were tested by measuring the susceptibility of 3 phenotypes from the red alga Gracilaria
cornea against herbivores from the coast of Israel. The 3 algal phenotypes (‘fine’, ‘green’, ‘wild’)
differed in morphology, as well as nutritional value (organic content). When presented with the 3
G. cornea phenotypes simultaneously, the amphipod Ampithoe ramondi and the crab Acanthonyx
lunulatus consumed significantly more of the finely branched phenotype (63 and 80% of total consumption, respectively) than of either the green or wild phenotypes. When confined with only 1 of
the 3 algal phenotypes, feeding patterns of the crab changed little, consuming significantly more
of the finely branched phenotype. In contrast, the amphipod responded by increasing consumption proportionally on the phenotypes with the lowest organic content. Regression analysis
showed that A. ramondi exhibited compensatory feeding and consumed significantly more of the
green phenotype than of either of the other 2 under no-choice conditions, with algal ash-free dry
mass explaining approximately 83% of the variance in feeding for this mesograzer. Data suggest
that feeding by crabs responded to algal morphology more, while amphipods cued on both structure and nutrient content of the algal phenotypes.
- Acquisition:
- Collected for University of Curacao's Institutional Repository by the UFIR Self-Submittal tool. Submitted by Janice Simon.
- Publication Status:
- Published
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- University of Curacao Institutional Repository
- Holding Location:
- University of the Virgin Islands
- Rights Management:
- All applicable rights reserved by the source institution and holding location.
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