TY - JOUR
T1 - Surviving or thriving? Trade-offs between growth, defense, and reproduction in a native versus an invasive rubus
AU - Thexton, Brady J.
AU - Bajcz, Alex W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Little is known about limits to reproduction in plants, especially as to how their other life history functions (growth and defense) may constrain reproductive investment. Understanding these constraints can help researchers refine best practices for cultivating species like Rubus (Rosaceae) that produce nutritious fruits as well as for controlling invasive species. Here, we sought to elucidate potential trade-offs between growth, defense, and reproduction in native Rubus allegheniensis Porter (common blackberry) and invasive Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. (wineberry) while accounting for the effects of varying insect herbivory and resource availability levels. We observed traits related to physical defense (e.g., prickle intensity), growth (e.g., cane length), and floral reproduction (e.g., ripe fruits), as well as carbon availability (e.g., canopy cover). We then used multiple regressions to characterize relationships between these variables for both species. We found potential evidence for 2 induced defenses in the invasive wineberry. Also, 5 models returned significant results indicative of trade-offs between reproduction and growth, reproduction and defense, and defense and growth in a single or both species. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the defensive strategies utilized by these species because inducible defenses may result in trade-offs that could reduce yields and (or) increase the invasive potential of Rubus species.
AB - Little is known about limits to reproduction in plants, especially as to how their other life history functions (growth and defense) may constrain reproductive investment. Understanding these constraints can help researchers refine best practices for cultivating species like Rubus (Rosaceae) that produce nutritious fruits as well as for controlling invasive species. Here, we sought to elucidate potential trade-offs between growth, defense, and reproduction in native Rubus allegheniensis Porter (common blackberry) and invasive Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. (wineberry) while accounting for the effects of varying insect herbivory and resource availability levels. We observed traits related to physical defense (e.g., prickle intensity), growth (e.g., cane length), and floral reproduction (e.g., ripe fruits), as well as carbon availability (e.g., canopy cover). We then used multiple regressions to characterize relationships between these variables for both species. We found potential evidence for 2 induced defenses in the invasive wineberry. Also, 5 models returned significant results indicative of trade-offs between reproduction and growth, reproduction and defense, and defense and growth in a single or both species. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the defensive strategies utilized by these species because inducible defenses may result in trade-offs that could reduce yields and (or) increase the invasive potential of Rubus species.
KW - Invasive species
KW - Physiological responses
KW - Plant reproduction
KW - Rubus
KW - Trade-offs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119059409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85119059409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1139/cjb-2020-0233
DO - 10.1139/cjb-2020-0233
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85119059409
SN - 1916-2804
VL - 99
SP - 773
EP - 787
JO - Botany
JF - Botany
IS - 12
ER -