e-journal

The diversity, ecology and evolution of extrafloral nectaries: current perspectives and future challenges

---

† Background:
Plants in over one hundred families in habitats worldwide bear extrafloral nectaries (EFNs). EFNs display a remarkable diversity of evolutionary origins, as well as diverse morphology and location on the plant. They secrete extrafloral nectar, a carbohydrate-rich food that attracts ants and other arthropods, many of which
protect the plant in return. By fostering ecologically important protective mutualisms, EFNs play a significant role in structuring both plant and animal communities. And yet researchers are only now beginning to appreciate their importance and the range of ecological, evolutionary and morphological diversity that EFNs exhibit.

† Scope:
This Highlight features a series of papers that illustrate some of the newest directions in the study of EFNs. Here, we introduce this set of papers by providing an overview of current understanding and new insights on EFN diversity, ecologyand evolution.We highlight major gaps in ourcurrent knowledge, and outline future research directions.

†Conclusions:
Our understanding of the roles EFNs play in plant biology is being revolutionized with the use of new tools from developmental biology and genomics, new modes of analysis allowing hypothesis-testing in large-scale
phylogenetic frameworks, and new levels of inquiry extending to community-scale interaction networks. But many central questions remain unanswered; indeed, many have not yet been asked. Thus, the EFN puzzle remains an intriguing challenge for the future.

Key words: Angiosperms, ants, ant–plant interactions, extranuptial, extrafloarl nectaries, extrasoral, ferns,
herbivory, interaction networks, mutualisms, nectar, plant defence, protection.

---

Ketersediaan

Tidak ada salinan data

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

Annals of Botany

No. Panggil

-

Penerbit

Oxford : Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company., 2013

Deskripsi Fisik

Annals of Botany 111: 1243–1250, 2013

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

-

Klasifikasi

-

Tipe Isi

-

Tipe Media

-

Tipe Pembawa

-

Edisi

111: 2013

Subjek

EKOFISIOLOGI TANAMAN

Info Detail Spesifik

-

Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

agus

Versi lain/terkait

Lampiran Berkas

Komentar

---

Anda harus masuk sebelum memberikan komentar