Published December 18, 2023 | Version v1

Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory

Description

Interactions between plants and herbivores are central in most ecosystems, but their strength is highly variable. The amount of variability within a system is thought to influence most aspects of plant-herbivore biology, from ecological stability to plant defense evolution. Our understanding of what influences variability, however, is limited by sparse data. We collected standardized surveys of herbivory for 503 plant species at 790 sites across 116° of latitude. With these data, we show that within-population variability in herbivory increases with latitude, decreases with plant size, and is phylogenetically structured. Differences in the magnitude of variability are thus central to how plant-herbivore biology varies across macroscale gradients. We argue that increased focus on interaction variability will advance understanding of patterns of life on Earth.

Notes

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka
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Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
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Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
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Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
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Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
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Funding provided by: Earthwatch Institute
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Funding provided by: Natural Environment Research Council
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Funding provided by: Agence Nationale de la Recherche
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Funding provided by: São Paulo Research Foundation
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Award Number: 2022/07381-9

Funding provided by: National University of La Pampa
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Funding provided by: São Paulo Research Foundation
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Award Number: 2013/25991-0

Funding provided by: Swiss National Science Foundation
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Award Number: 310030E-173542/1

Funding provided by: DFG
Award Number: SP 1380/2-1

Funding provided by: Canada Research Chair Program
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Funding provided by: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
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Award Number: 18J00093

Funding provided by: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
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Award Number: 22K15188

Funding provided by: FONDECYT
Award Number: 1190927

Funding provided by: Swiss National Science Foundation
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Award Number: 31003A_179481

Funding provided by: FONDECYT
Award Number: 11181100

Funding provided by: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
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Award Number: 312178/2019-0

Funding provided by: Israel Science Foundation
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Award Number: 336/16

Funding provided by: FONDECYT
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Funding provided by: Academy of Finland
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Funding provided by: Irish Research Council
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Award Number: 2017/2018 IRCLA/2017/60

Funding provided by: McIntire Stennis project
Award Number: MD-ENTM-19001

Funding provided by: Postdoctoral Fulbright
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Funding provided by: Argentinian ministry
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Funding provided by: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
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Award Number: 307447/2018-9

Funding provided by: Instituto de Ecología
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Funding provided by: Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
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Funding provided by: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
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Award Number: 441573/2020-7 [PELD-RAS]

Funding provided by: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
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Award Number: 406767/2022-0 [INCT SinBiAm]

Funding provided by: DFG Priority Program Program 1374*
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Funding provided by: Texas Ecological Laboratory
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Funding provided by: Royal Society University Research Fellowship
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Funding provided by: Turku Collegium for Science, Medicine and Technology
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Funding provided by: United States Department of Agriculture
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Award Number: WIS01842

Funding provided by: Texas Ecological Laboratory
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Funding provided by: Texas Ecological Laboratory, Stengl-Wyer Fellowship
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Funding provided by: Grant ANID PIA/BASAL
Award Number: FB210006

Funding provided by: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
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Award Number: NCN2021‐050

Funding provided by: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and EU
Award Number: FJC2020-042954-I

Funding provided by: US Forest Service
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Funding provided by: University of Pittsburgh
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