Herbivory Modifies the Production of Different Leaf Types in the Yellow Water-Lily, Nuphar Lutea (Nymphaeceae)

Abstract

Rosettes of the yellow water-lily bear both floating and submerged leaves. The major specialist herbivore, the water-lily beetle (Galerucella nymphaeae, Col., Chrysomelidae), has access only to the floating leaves, and no herbivore eats the submerged leaves. The possibility was studied experimentally that heterophylly (i.e. the occurrence of morphologically different leaves) of the yellow water-lily is affected by herbivores. Experiments were conducted with naturally growing plants. Herbivory did not cause noticeable changes in the total number of leaves produced or in the production of flowers. However, the relative production of the different leaf types changed within a month. Plants eaten by the beetles produced more submerged leaves (...)