Difference of damage by herbivores between young red and green leaves, could it be vegetal mimicry?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18537/mskn.07.01.09Keywords:
damage by herbivory, young leaves, red and green coloring, defense strategies, Los TuxtlasAbstract
The presence of red coloration on young leaves of some plant species in tropical forests could serve as signal for herbivores of the presence of chemical defenses, resulting in the escape damage by herbivores. The specific objectives of this study were to compare between green and red young leaves: a) levels of herbivore damage, b) the hardness and c) the acceptability of plant tissue by generalist herbivores (grasshoppers Vellea mexicana). Red young leaves had significantly less damage by herbivores than young green leaves; hardness was also significantly lower in the red young leaves, while the acceptability of foliage by herbivores showed no significant difference between the two types of leaves. It is suggested that the red coloration may represent an effective strategy of low investment of resources that would allow vulnerable young leaves to escape the damage caused by herbivores.
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