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Journal of Chemical Ecology

, 34:1377 | Cite as

Defense on the Rocks: Low Monoterpenoid Levels in Plants on Pillars Without Mammalian Herbivores

  • Dietland Müller-Schwarze
  • Vera Thoss
Article
First Online:
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Abstract

This study addresses the adaptive dynamics of plant toxins that ward off herbivores, an aspect of chemical warfare in ecosystems. Thyme basil (Acinos suaveolens) growing in an area regularly grazed by mammals contains double the concentration of monoterpenoids (15.61 vs. 8.18 mg/g dry matter, P = 0.001) when contrasted with plants growing on inaccessible rock pillars and not exposed to mammalian herbivores. Thyme basil produces two monoterpenoids—menthone and R-(+)-pulegone—that show contrasting toxicity. The more toxic R-(+)-pulegone shows an increase in relative abundance (66.3% vs. 47.5%, P < 0.001) in plants exposed to browsing The results demonstrate how plant chemistry responds to both abiotic and biotic environmental conditions.

Keywords

Acinos suaveolens Greece Herbivores Mediterranean Menthone Monoterpenes Plant defense R-(+)-pulegone Thyme basil 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank the rock climbers, notably Dietrich and Ursula Hasse, and Detlef Augustin for their guidance, both in locally facilitating the project and “hands on” leading on the rocks. The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 4QH, UK is acknowledged for access to analytical facilities.

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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.College of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New YorkSyracuseUSA
  2. 2.School of ChemistryBangor UniversityBangorUK

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