Plant-herbivore interactions

Plant-herbivore interactions are ecological relationships in which animals consume living plant tissues. Their outcomes range from damage to mutual benefits, depending on the organisms and circumstances.

Plant defense against herbivory: Plant traits and responses that reduce damage or fitness loss from consumers. These defenses shape which plant tissues herbivores can eat and at what cost.
Plant compensatory growth: Plant growth or reproduction that offsets some effects of tissue loss. Some plants recover from herbivory by replacing damaged tissues or reallocating resources.
Integrated pest management: A strategy that combines monitoring and multiple control methods to limit pest damage. It manages crop herbivores while reducing reliance on any single control tactic.
Acacia–ant mutualism: An interaction in which some acacias provide ants with food and shelter, and ants defend the plants. It shows how a plant can support animals that protect it from other herbivores.
Plant secondary metabolites: Organic compounds that influence interactions with other organisms but are not directly required for basic growth. Some deter herbivores, while others are tolerated or exploited by specialized consumers.
Trophic cascade: A chain of indirect effects across multiple trophic levels in a food web. Changes in herbivore abundance can alter plant biomass through effects of predators.
Crop wild relatives: Wild plant species related to domesticated crops and often useful in crop improvement. They can provide inherited defenses against herbivores to cultivated varieties.
Milkweed–monarch interaction: The feeding relationship between monarch caterpillars and milkweeds, which contain toxic cardenolides. Monarch caterpillars tolerate milkweed defenses and can sequester some toxins.
Induced plant defense: Plant defenses activated or strengthened in response to damage or attack cues. Herbivory can trigger defenses that alter later feeding and plant performance.
Plant population dynamics: Changes over time in the size and structure of plant populations. Repeated consumption can affect plant survival, reproduction, and recruitment.

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