Concepts
12 concepts
mutualistic relationships
Mutually beneficial herbivore-predator associations where sap-feeding insects provide honeydew food for ants in exchange for protection against predators
trophic cascade
Indirect effects of predators on lower trophic levels mediated through changes in intermediate consumer behavior or abundance
facilitative interactions
Positive species interactions such as nurse plant effects by cushion-forming species that increase reproductive success for neighboring plants
tripartite interactions
Interactions involving three species or groups, such as soil microbes, plants, and pollinators
biomass allocation
Distribution of plant growth and resources between aboveground (shoots) and belowground (roots) structures
herbivore preference
Selective feeding behavior of herbivores that favors certain plant traits or genotypes over others
associative learning
The formation of predictive relationships between contingent stimuli in the environment
honeydew production
The excretion of sugar-rich liquid waste by herbivorous hemipterans feeding on plant sap
parasitoid behavior
Behavioral patterns of wasps that parasitize other arthropods, particularly aphids
temperature buffering
When clustered plants experience facilitative interactions that cause leaves to be cooler relative to surrounding soils
trophallaxis
The sharing of liquid food resources between nestmates through specialized anatomical and behavioral adaptations
ungulate-aspen interactions
Ecological interactions between hoofed mammals and aspen trees including herbivory effects on tree health and forest composition