Journal Article

Species-specific responses drive browsing impacts on physiological and functional traits in Quercus agrifolia and Umbellularia californica

Leonard, Hugh E., Pittermann, Jarmila, Ciambrone, Mary

2024

Overview

Herbivory is a fundamental ecological force in the evolution of plant physiological, morphological, and chemical attributes. In this study, we explored how browsing pressure by local deer populations affected leaf form and function in two California native tree species, Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) and Umbellularia californica (California bay laurel). Specifically, we investigated how leaf and stem vascular attributes differed between browsed and non-browsed zones of each species. Browsing significantly altered traits such as leaf to phloem ratios and leaf area, but we observed few meaningful differences in leaf and stem anatomy between browsed and non-browsed material. We discuss these results in the context of leaf and stem adaptations to herbivory and water use efficiency and explore future research considerations for investigating leaf and stem vascular trait development with herbivore presence.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Animal populations / Animals / Biology and Life Sciences / Browsing / California / Carbon / Deer / Deer - physiology / Ecology and Environmental Sciences / Ecosystems / Evolution / Evolutionary biology / Grasslands / Herbivores / Herbivory / Herbivory - physiology / Hydraulics / Indigenous species / Leaf area / Leaves / Morphology / Physiological aspects / Physiology / Plant anatomy / Plant Leaves - anatomy & histology / Plant Leaves - physiology / Plant species / Plant Stems - anatomy & histology / Plant Stems - physiology / Plants / Population studies / Quercus - physiology / Quercus agrifolia / Species Specificity / Stems / Trees / Umbellularia californica / Water use / Water use efficiency