Plant Defenses Against Mammalian Herbivory

This volume summarizes what is currently known about mammalian herbivore-plant interaction, particularly as governed by plant secondary chemistry, and suggests productive avenues for future research. Topics covered include foraging theory and plant chemistry in mammal herbivory; the evolution of herbivory in relation to plant defenses; factors controlling resource allocation to defenses in plants; mechanisms by which herbivorous mammals can counter plant defenses to gain necessary energy and nutrients; and herbivory in deserts, temperate and tropical forests, and boreal forests. Wildlife biologists, agriculturalists, physiologists, nutritionists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists and other researchers interested in mammalian herbivore-plant interaction will find a tremendous store of useful information in this unique book.

Part I. Ecological and evolutionary processes: Evolution of plant chemical defense against herbivores; The distribution of secondary compounds within plants; Mechanism of plant avoidance of autotoxicity by secondary metabolites, especially by nonprotein amino acids; How animal perceive secondary compounds; Biochemical defense mechanisms in herbivores against plant allelochemicals; Plant resources for chemical defense; Interaction of allelochemicals with nutrients in herbivore food; New horizons in the biology of plant defenses. Part II. The chemical participants: Naturally occurring, toxic nonprotein amino acids; Cyanide and cyanogenic glycosides; The evolutionary ecology of alkaloids; Toxic seed lipids; Chemistry and biological effect of glucosinolates; Sesquiterpene lactones and other terpenoids; Saponins; Phytohemagglutinins; Proteinase inhibitors; Flavonoid pigments; Tannins and lignins; Insect hormone and antihormones in plants.

This volume presents the latest research on herbivores, aquatic and terrestrial mammals and insects. The Second Edition, written almost entirely by new authors, effectively complements the initial work. It includes advances in molecular biology and microbiology, ecology, and evolutionary theory that have been achieved since the first edition was published in 1979. The book also incorporates relatively new methodologies in the area of molecular biology, like protein purification and gene cloning. Volume II, Ecological and Evolutionary Processes, also opens up entirely new subjects: The discussions of interactions have expanded to include phenomena at higher trophic levels, such as predation and microbial processing and other environmental influences. Both this and Volume I, The Chemical Participants, will be of interest to chemists, biochemists, plant and insect ecologists, evolutionary biologists, physiologists, entomologists, and agroecologists interested in both crop and animal science. Presents coevolution of herbivores and host plants Examines resource availability and its effects on secondary metabolism and herbivores Studies physiology and biochemistry of adaptation to hosts Includes tri-trophic interactions involving predators and microbes

This timely book provides an overview of the anatomical, chemical, and developmental features contributing to plant defense, with an emphasis on plant responses that are induced by wounding or herbivore attack. The book first introduces general concepts of direct and indirect defenses, followed by a focused review of the different resistance traits. Finally, signal perception and transduction mechanism for the activation of plant defense responses are discussed.

V. 1. The chemical participants -- v. 2. Ecological and evolutionary processes.

This Reference Work is devoted to plant secondary metabolites and their evolutionary adaptation to different hosts and pests. Secondary metabolites play an important biological role in plants’ defence against herbivores, abiotic stresses and pathogens, and they also attract beneficial organisms such as pollinators. In this work, readers will find a comprehensive review of the phytochemical diversity, modification and adaptation of secondary metabolites, and the consequences of their co-evolution with plant parasites, pollinators, and herbivores. Chapters from expert contributors are organised into twelve sections that collate the current knowledge in intra-/inter-specific diversity in plant secondary metabolites, changes in secondary metabolites during plants’ adaptation to different environmental conditions, and co-evolution of host-parasite metabolites. Among the twelve themed parts, readers will also discover expert analysis on the genetics and chemical ecology evolution of secondary metabolites, and particular attention is also given to allelochemicals, bioactive molecules in plant defence and the evolution of sensory perception in vertebrates. This reference work will appeal to students, researchers and professionals interested in the field of plant pathology, plant breeding, biotechnology, agriculture and phytochemistry.

Chemical Mediation of Coevolution explores the degree to which chemicals are the currency of information exchange in coevolved systems; it also reexamines existing concepts of coevolution through interpretation of chemical parameters. The contents of this volume are based on the ""Chemical Mediation of Coevolution"" symposium held on 14-15 August 1985 as part of the 36th annual AIBS meeting at the University of Florida. The volume contains 18 chapters majority of which address plant-chemical-insect systems. Explorations are also made into mammalian systems and into insect mimicry, as that process derives ultimately from herbivory upon plants. The data thus presented will specifically address chemistry as a factor in the establishment and maintenance of coevolution, and test coevolutionary concepts for their pertinence to chemically mediated systems. It is hoped that this collected work will provide an impetus for careful reconsideration of the possible roles played by chemistry in the establishment, maintenance, and fate of coevolutionary relationships.