What factors affect the spininess of plants in different locations?
Plants often grow spines, thorns, and prickles to defend against animals that feed on them, but why this happens in some places more than others has remained a mystery. Research in New Phytologist shows that plant spininess is shaped by browsing mammals both past and present, together with environmental conditions.
In the study of 2,686 ecologically diverse plants, including both spiny and non-spiny species, and 368 mammalian herbivores, investigators found that current and extinct large herbivores are key predictors of the prevalence of spiny species. Also, dry-season length, soil pH, and temperature shaped the proportion of spiny species both directly and indirectly through their effects on herbivore richness, whereas fire influenced spinescence only indirectly.
“Our findings suggest that ecosystems can carry the influence of large herbivores long after they disappear. Many of the fauna that once shaped the evolution of plant defenses are extinct, yet their legacy remains visible in the vegetation we see today,” said co–corresponding author Rachel Souza Ferreira, PhD, of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research.
URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.71376
Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.
About the Journal
New Phytologist is an international journal publishing outstanding original research in plant science and its applications. Research falls into five sections: Physiology & Development, Environment, Interaction, Evolution, and Transformative Plant Biotechnology. Topics covered range from intracellular processes through to global environmental change. New Phytologist is owned by the New Phytologist Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of plant science.
About Wiley
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Journal
New Phytologist
Article Title
The complex interaction between mammalian herbivores, climate, soil and fire has shaped the evolution and distribution of plant spinescence across biogeographical realms
Article Publication Date
22-Jul-2026
No comments:
Post a Comment