THE EFFECTS OF HERBIVORY ON PATERNAL FITNESS IN SCARLET-GILIA - BETTER MOMS ALSO MAKE BETTER POPS

Whether plants can benefit from the direct effects of herbivory has be en contentious among ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Although previous studies have provided experimental evidence of enhanced mater nal fitness following herbivory in a natural system, an accurate depic tion of plant-herbivore interactions must include the effects of herbi vory on male as well as female fitness. Here we show that ungulate her bivory on scarlet gilia results in an increase in paternal as well as maternal fitness. This study represents the first evidence of overcomp ensation in a natural system where both paternal and maternal componen ts of fitness have been assessed.