Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01222.x
Title (Primary) Effects of experimental inbreeding on herbivore resistance and plant fitness: the role of history of inbreeding, herbivory and abiotic factors
Author Leimu, R.; Kloss, L.; Fischer, M.
Source Titel Ecology Letters
Year 2008
Department BZF
Volume 11
Issue 10
Page From 1101
Page To 1110
Language englisch
Keywords Experimental inbreeding; fitness; herbivore resistance; herbivory; inbreeding depression; outbreeding depression; purging of genetic load
Abstract Inbreeding is common in plant populations and can affect plant fitness and resistance against herbivores. These effects are likely to depend on population history. In a greenhouse experiment with plants from 17 populations of Lychnis flos-cuculi, we studied the effects of experimental inbreeding on resistance and plant fitness. Depending on the levels of past herbivory and abiotic factors at the site of plant origin, we found either inbreeding or outbreeding depression in herbivore resistance. Furthermore, when not damaged experimentally by snail herbivores, plants from populations with higher heterozygosity suffered from inbreeding depression and those from populations with lower heterozygosity suffered from outbreeding depression. These effects of inbreeding and outbreeding were not apparent under experimental snail herbivory. We conclude that inbreeding effects on resistance and plant fitness depend on population history. Moreover, herbivory can mask inbreeding effects on plant fitness. Thus, understanding inbreeding effects on plant fitness requires studying multiple populations and considering population history and biotic interactions
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=1181
Leimu, R., Kloss, L., Fischer, M. (2008):
Effects of experimental inbreeding on herbivore resistance and plant fitness: the role of history of inbreeding, herbivory and abiotic factors
Ecol. Lett. 11 (10), 1101 - 1110 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01222.x