Despite their recognised ecological value, relatively little is known about the nutritional value of species-rich rangelands for herbivores. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Bumb et al. investigated the sources of variation in forage quality in plants from species-rich Mediterranean rangelands in southern France. Digestibility was affected by species growth form, harvest date, […]

The monitoring of biodiversity has focused mainly on the species level. However, researchers and land managers are making increasing use of complementary assessment tools that address higher levels of biological organisation, i.e. communities, habitats and ecosystems. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Del Vecchio et al. evaluated the variation in vegetation features such […]

Nectar-foraging pollinators respond flexibly to the reward condition of floral patches. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Nakamura and Kudo compared foraging behaviours of bumblebees between naturally rewarding and artificially rewardless (i.e., nectary removed) patches in aconite populations, with the aim of evaluating the effects of an unrewarding experience. They found that bees […]

Florivory, or damage to flowers by herbivores, can make flowers less attractive to pollinators, potentially resulting in reduced plant fitness. However, few studies have combined observations with experiments to assess the causal link between florivory and pollination. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Tsuji et al. conducted field observations and experiments to study […]

Species that are restricted to specialized, rare habitats, such as Myristica fatua (a swamp specialist tree), cannot afford to send propagules too far and risk arriving in inhospitable habitats. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Krishna and Somanathan followed the fate of seeds from fruiting till seedling establishment to examine the ecological strategies […]

Co-flowering species may undergo interspecific hybridization if they are closely related and share pollinators. However, a series of reproductive barriers between species can prevent interspecific gene flow, making natural hybridization a transient, rare event. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Zhang et al. evaluated interspecific hybridization and potential isolating barriers between co-flowering Silene […]

Interest in the thermal acclimation of photosynthesis has been stimulated by the increasing relevance of climate change. However, little is known about intra-specific variations in thermal acclimation and its potential for breeding. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Zaka et al. analysed intra-specific variations in the thermal acclimation of photosynthesis in a perennial […]

The type and intensity of plant–herbivore interactions are likely to be changed under climate change as a consequence of differential dispersal rates of plants and their herbivores. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Dostálek et al. found that Salvia nubicola distributed along a broad altitudinal gradient developed a range of defence strategies against […]

Maintaining the integrity of the cuticular transpiration barrier even at elevated temperatures is of vital importance for hot-desert plants. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Schuster et al. investigated the effect of temperature on the leaf cuticular permeability of Rhazya stricta, an evergreen shrub from the Arabian Desert. Permeability increased 2.4-fold from 15° […]

Germination cues reflect the conditions under which a species is likely to succeed in recruitment. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Lai et al. evaluated the seed germination responses of seven desert species to temperature and light and explored the implications for vegetation restoration. Both temperature and photon irradiance influenced the germination of […]

The mating systems of species in small or fragmented populations impact upon their persistence. A recent study published in AoB PLANTS by Silva et al. highlights the value of performing detailed mating system studies in plant species of high conservation value, such as the rare and relict species of Sonchus section Pustulati. The study adds […]

During their life, plants face multiple stresses. However, studies on single stress factors have typically neglected possible interactions with other factors. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Renault et al. demonstrated that salt stress in Indian mustard (a plant species not adapted to salinity) lessens the effect of herbivory on plant mass, and increases the plants’ […]