Herbivory
The consumption of plants or plant parts by animals. A major ecological interaction that transfers energy from primary producers to consumers.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 6 chapters:
"...erant species can establish anywhere, growing slowly until opportunity appears. Different strategies, both viable in different environments. The Herbivory Gauntlet A seedling is soft, nutritious, and defenseless. It's the plant equivalent of a baby gazelle on the Serengeti."
"...chemical weapons): - Release bitter or toxic compounds (tannins, alkaloids) systemically (throughout plant) - Future bites taste worse, deter further herbivory - Some compounds specifically target caterpillar gut enzymes, reducing digestion efficiency 2. Indirect defense (recruit predators): - Tomato pl..."
"...anging because the other species is also evolving. Ehrlich and Raven (1964) termed this pattern escape-and-radiate co-evolution: plants "escape" herbivory by evolving novel toxins, then radiate into new ecological niches (adaptive radiation, Chapter 4). Eventually, some herbivores "catch up" by evolving..."
"...arge bees than by small bees or flies, because different pollinators access different flower types. Seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, predation, and herbivory all exhibit similar functional redundancy, with multiple species contributing to ecosystem processes."
"...periment in Germany planted grassland plots with 1 to 60 species and measured productivity, nutrient retention, and resistance to drought, flood, and herbivory. Overyielding appeared in 96% of diverse plots. The mechanism was niche complementarity: diverse plots rooted 30% deeper, bloomed across more months,..."
And 1 more chapter...
Biological Context
Herbivores face challenges—plants defend themselves with toxins, thorns, and tough tissues. Different herbivores specialize on different plant parts (leaves, seeds, roots) or use different detoxification strategies. Herbivory pressure shapes plant evolution and community structure.