Birds exploit herbivore-induced plant volatiles to locate herbivorous prey

TY - JOUR

T1 - Birds exploit herbivore-induced plant volatiles to locate herbivorous prey

AU - Amo, L.

AU - Jansen, J.J.

AU - Van Dam, N.M.

AU - Dicke, M.

AU - Visser, M.E.

N1 - Reporting year: 2013 Metis note: 5514; AnE

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Arthropod herbivory induces plant volatiles that can be used by natural enemies of the herbivores to find their prey. This has been studied mainly for arthropods that prey upon or parasitise herbivorous arthropods but rarely for insectivorous birds, one of the main groups of predators of herbivorous insects such as lepidopteran larvae. Here, we show that great tits (Parus major) discriminate between caterpillar-infested and uninfested trees. Birds were attracted to infested trees, even when they could not see the larvae or their feeding damage. We furthermore show that infested and uninfested trees differ in volatile emissions and visual characteristics. Finally, we show, for the first time, that birds smell which tree is infested with their prey based on differences in volatile profiles emitted by infested and uninfested trees. Volatiles emitted by plants in response to herbivory by lepidopteran larvae thus not only attract predatory insects but also vertebrate predators.

AB - Arthropod herbivory induces plant volatiles that can be used by natural enemies of the herbivores to find their prey. This has been studied mainly for arthropods that prey upon or parasitise herbivorous arthropods but rarely for insectivorous birds, one of the main groups of predators of herbivorous insects such as lepidopteran larvae. Here, we show that great tits (Parus major) discriminate between caterpillar-infested and uninfested trees. Birds were attracted to infested trees, even when they could not see the larvae or their feeding damage. We furthermore show that infested and uninfested trees differ in volatile emissions and visual characteristics. Finally, we show, for the first time, that birds smell which tree is infested with their prey based on differences in volatile profiles emitted by infested and uninfested trees. Volatiles emitted by plants in response to herbivory by lepidopteran larvae thus not only attract predatory insects but also vertebrate predators.

KW - national

U2 - 10.1111/ele.12177

DO - 10.1111/ele.12177

M3 - Article

SN - 1461-023X

VL - 16

SP - 1348

EP - 1355

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

IS - 11

ER -