Leaf variegation is associated with reduced herbivore damage in Hydrophyllum virginianum

Leaf variegation refers to local regions of the upper surface of a leaf having reduced or obstructed chlorophyll, which results in whitish spots. These lighter spots may compromise the photosynthetic efficiency of a leaf, and many competing hypotheses have been put forward to explain why this patterning may be adaptive. It has been suggested that variegation is either an adaptive response to environmental conditions or a defence mechanism against herbivore damage. To test whether leaf variegation reduces herbivore damage, we first assessed the frequency of variegated and nonvariegated leaves in natural populations of the plant Hydrophyllum virginianum L., and second, measured herbivore damage to both variegated and nonvariegated leaves. We found that variegated leaves were present at high frequencies within natural populations (6%–31%) and that nonvariegated leaves sustained nearly twice the amount of damage by comparison with variegated leaves. Therefore, leaf variegation appears to be beneficial by reducing herbivore damage to leaves. These data are consistent with the fundamental prediction of the herbivory hypothesis for the benefits of leaf variegation.