This timely book provides an overview of the anatomical, chemical, and developmental features contributing to plant defense, with an emphasis on plant responses that are induced by wounding or herbivore attack. The book first introduces general concepts of direct and indirect defenses, followed by a focused review of the different resistance traits. Finally, signal perception and transduction mechanism for the activation of plant defense responses are discussed.

For the first time, these problems are examined here purely from the perspective of the reptiles. Individual groups are looked at the structural, physiological and ecological adaptations of the herbivorous members are reviewed. The groups discussed include the modern reptiles, the lizards and the turtles and also extinct reptiles, the dinosaurs and the mammal-like reptiles.

Studies of herbivory provide important insights into fundamental questions in many areas of the biological sciences. The focus on natural systems is more effective for the prediction of potential changes in ecosystems, given that agricultural systems are designed to create an equilibrium that optimizes the productive process. Given the ramifications of the processes related to herbivory, studies based on complementary approaches are necessary for a better understanding of the different aspects of the ecological process. This book attempts to expand on these different aspects of herbivory by presenting a multidisciplinary approach to a number of different themes, focusing on topics that range from basic research in natural habitats to the intrinsic relationships between animals and plants in agricultural systems.

Plants face a daunting array of creatures that eat them, bore into them, and otherwise use virtually every plant part for food, shelter, or both. But although plants cannot flee from their attackers, they are far from defenseless. In addition to adaptations like thorns, which may be produced in response to attack, plants actively alter their chemistry and physiology in response to damage. For instance, young potato plant leaves being eaten by potato beetles respond by producing chemicals that inhibit beetle digestive enzymes. Over the past fifteen years, research on these induced responses to herbivory has flourished, and here Richard Karban and Ian T. Baldwin present the first comprehensive evaluation and synthesis of this rapidly developing field. They provide state-of-the-discipline reviews and highlight areas where new research will be most productive. Their comprehensive overview will be welcomed by a wide variety of theoretical and applied researchers in ecology, evolutionary biology, plant biology, entomology, and agriculture.

This book attempts to summarize what we know about inseet-plant relationships without beeoming too involved with untestable hypo- theses. It is not intended to be eomprehensive and we have deliberately excluded diseussion of aquatie organisms and fungi. Our definition of inseet herbivores is intentionally broad. It includes all inseets whieh feed on plants, although we have emphasized those whieh feed primarily on the photosynthetie tissues. Some referenee is made to seed predation but pollination eeology is excluded. We thank Ors P.H. Smith and M. Luxton for their helpful eommenb on the manuseript but we accept full responsibility for any mistakes whieh may remain. Finally, we thank the various publishers and a uthor who gave us permission to use copyright material. 7 I Introduction The net primary produetion of the 300000 speeies of vaseular plant whieh inhabit the dry land surfaee of the earth has been estimated at 9 about 115 x 10 t per annum. This represents a massive resouree potentially available for exploitation by the herbivorous inseets, which themselves probably number in exeess of 500000 species.

This volume summarizes what is currently known about mammalian herbivore-plant interaction, particularly as governed by plant secondary chemistry, and suggests productive avenues for future research. Topics covered include foraging theory and plant chemistry in mammal herbivory; the evolution of herbivory in relation to plant defenses; factors controlling resource allocation to defenses in plants; mechanisms by which herbivorous mammals can counter plant defenses to gain necessary energy and nutrients; and herbivory in deserts, temperate and tropical forests, and boreal forests. Wildlife biologists, agriculturalists, physiologists, nutritionists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists and other researchers interested in mammalian herbivore-plant interaction will find a tremendous store of useful information in this unique book.