Plants and how the defend themselves, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Biology

Download Plants and how the defend themselves and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Biology in PDF only on Docsity!

How Plants Defend

Themselves

Against Herbivores

Sarah Kellen Liam

Defense Mechanisms

 (^) There are five different types of defense mechanisms  (^) Chemical, mechanical, indirect, mimicry and camouflage, and leaf shedding and color

Mechanical Defense

 (^) Intact and impenetrable barrier composed of bark and a waxy cuticle, thorns, hard shells, and spines (modified leaves)  (^) Thigmonastic movements- occur in response to touch  (^) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZWRonDqCuA

Indirect Defenses

 (^) These are defensive strategies by which plants attract natural enemies of herbivores. (mutualism)  (^) Certain plants when attacked release volatile chemicals which predators can sense as food cues, attracting them to the plant and providing protection.  (^) Some plants also provide shelter and nectar such as the Acacia tree species. Which provides nectar on leaves and hollow thorns.

Leaf Shedding and Color

 (^) Plants drop their leaves to protect themselves.  (^) It has been suggested that color change also helps to negate the camouflage of herbivores.

Sources

 (^) Alkaloid. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/alkaloid-info.htm  (^) B. (n.d.). Defense responses against herbivores - Boundless Open Textbook. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology- textbook/plant-form-and-physiology-30/plant-defense-mechanisms-185/defense- responses-against-herbivores-707-13134/  (^) (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ reverie  (^) (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_defense_against_herbivory#Types_of_chemical_