<p>Despite urbanization increasing rates globally, its consequences on plant-animal interactions remain understudied. Most studies on plant-herbivore interactions focus on leaf herbivory, but other parts of plants, such as flowers, are also attacked by herbivores. The relationships between flower and leaf consumption are also not yet well established and understood. Furthermore, it is still unclear whether urbanization influences florivory and folivory, and whether these interactions are driven by plant traits associated with urbanization. We examined the effects of urbanization, urban green spaces, and functional plant traits on folivory and florivory of <i>Turnera subulata</i>, an herbaceous plant widely distributed in the tropics. We did not find effects of urbanization and green spaces on folivory, but florivory was more likely to occur in locations with higher urbanization intensity. Increases in the number of flowers were an important predictor in reducing the probability of folivory, which was not associated with other plant traits. For folivory, leaf size was a relevant predictor, suggesting herbivore preference for larger leaves. We suggest that flower consumption is more sensitive to urban environmental pressures than leaf consumption, and that urbanization, by affecting flower production and the frequency of floral visitors, may modulate the likelihood of flower damage in <i>T. subulata</i>. Our findings indicate that the responses of insect-plant interactions in the context of urbanization are not the same for all types of interactions. Our assessment of florivory and folivory, along with plant traits associated with urbanization, advances the understanding of the potential effects of urbanization on plant-herbivore interactions in urban environments.</p>

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Florivory, but not folivory, increases in a widely distributed tropical ruderal plant from more urbanized areas

  • Luziene Seixas,
  • Júlia Evily Rocha Silva,
  • Dalton Serafim,
  • Willames Magno Cardoso dos Santos,
  • Rosy Valéria da Rocha Lopes,
  • Kim Ribeiro Barão,
  • Guilherme Ramos Demetrio

摘要

Despite urbanization increasing rates globally, its consequences on plant-animal interactions remain understudied. Most studies on plant-herbivore interactions focus on leaf herbivory, but other parts of plants, such as flowers, are also attacked by herbivores. The relationships between flower and leaf consumption are also not yet well established and understood. Furthermore, it is still unclear whether urbanization influences florivory and folivory, and whether these interactions are driven by plant traits associated with urbanization. We examined the effects of urbanization, urban green spaces, and functional plant traits on folivory and florivory of Turnera subulata, an herbaceous plant widely distributed in the tropics. We did not find effects of urbanization and green spaces on folivory, but florivory was more likely to occur in locations with higher urbanization intensity. Increases in the number of flowers were an important predictor in reducing the probability of folivory, which was not associated with other plant traits. For folivory, leaf size was a relevant predictor, suggesting herbivore preference for larger leaves. We suggest that flower consumption is more sensitive to urban environmental pressures than leaf consumption, and that urbanization, by affecting flower production and the frequency of floral visitors, may modulate the likelihood of flower damage in T. subulata. Our findings indicate that the responses of insect-plant interactions in the context of urbanization are not the same for all types of interactions. Our assessment of florivory and folivory, along with plant traits associated with urbanization, advances the understanding of the potential effects of urbanization on plant-herbivore interactions in urban environments.