What question did this study set out to answer?

To review empirical evidence examining nitrogen as a limiting nutrient for herbivores and assess the evolutionary adaptations organisms use to cope with plant nitrogen variation.

November 1, 1980Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics

Herbivory in Relation to Plant Nitrogen Content

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Authors

WMWilliam J. MattsonUS Forest Service

Discussion

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Implication

Literature review reveals that dietary nitrogen limits growth and survival in herbivores, indicating that plant nutritional variation drives extensive behavioral and physiological adaptations.

Key Points

To review empirical evidence examining nitrogen as a limiting nutrient for herbivores and assess the evolutionary adaptations organisms use to cope with plant nitrogen variation.
Reviewed published ecological literature assessing herbivore physiological responses, including growth, reproduction, and survival, following nitrogen supplementation.
Evaluated patterns of nitrogen variation across seasonal cycles, ontogenetic plant stages, distinct tissue types, and plant species.
Metabolizable organic nitrogen is naturally scarce in plant tissues relative to herbivore physiological requirements, operating as a primary limiting factor.
Supplemental nitrogen consistently enhances health, developmental rates, reproductive output, and survival across diverse herbivore groups.
Herbivores exhibit specialized behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations evolved to exploit fluctuating nitrogen levels in their habitats.

Cite This Study

William J. Mattson (1980) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dd38827808b00a4799b7e6 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.11.110180.001003

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November 1, 1980Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics

Herbivory in Relation to Plant Nitrogen Content

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

WMWilliam J. MattsonUS Forest Service

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Literature review reveals that dietary nitrogen limits growth and survival in herbivores, indicating that plant nutritional variation drives extensive behavioral and physiological adaptations.

Key Points

To review empirical evidence examining nitrogen as a limiting nutrient for herbivores and assess the evolutionary adaptations organisms use to cope with plant nitrogen variation.
Reviewed published ecological literature assessing herbivore physiological responses, including growth, reproduction, and survival, following nitrogen supplementation.
Evaluated patterns of nitrogen variation across seasonal cycles, ontogenetic plant stages, distinct tissue types, and plant species.
Metabolizable organic nitrogen is naturally scarce in plant tissues relative to herbivore physiological requirements, operating as a primary limiting factor.
Supplemental nitrogen consistently enhances health, developmental rates, reproductive output, and survival across diverse herbivore groups.
Herbivores exhibit specialized behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations evolved to exploit fluctuating nitrogen levels in their habitats.

Cite This Study

William J. Mattson (1980) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dd38827808b00a4799b7e6 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.11.110180.001003

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