Collaborative Research: Herbivory on Freshwater Macrophytes: Quantifying Plant Damage and Mechanisms of Plant Resistance

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9410336 Hay The study of plant-herbivore interactions in freshwater communities has lagged far behind similar investigations in terrestrial and marine systems. Yet research in the latter two habitats has revolutionized our understanding of plant-animal interactions, ecosystem function, and coevolution. This project extends methods and approaches developed for marine herbivore systems to little-studied freshwater herbivore systems. The investigators are documenting: what plant traits deter herbivore consumption, the selectivity of freshwater herbivores, and the impact of generalist vs. specialist herbivores. This research will allow the testing of important theories of plant defenses and herbivory developed in terrestrial and marine systems, and provide a unique opportunity for valuable comparisons between the three systems. This research will improve our understanding of the ecology of plant-herbivore interactions and the role of macrophyte feeders in the function of aquatic ecosystems. The results have application in the management of aquatic ecosystems.