The significance of metal hyperaccumulation for biotic interactions |
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Authors: | Robert S Boyd Scott N Martens |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany and Microbiology, and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5407, USA. E-mail: rboyd@acesag.auburn.edu, US;(2) Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Metal hyperaccumulating plants contain very high metal contents. Because of the general toxicity of metals, chemically-mediated
biotic interactions involving hyperaccumulating plants may differ greatly from those of non-hyperaccumulators. Recent research
has demonstrated a defensive function for hyperaccumulated metals against herbivores and pathogens. We predict that some herbivore/pathogen
species have evolved metal tolerance, and suggest that resulting high metal levels in herbivores/pathogens may defend them
against their own predators. Little is known regarding interference and commensal interactions involving hyperaccumulating
plants. Decreased competition may occur through an interference interaction similar to allelopathy, in which enrichment of
metal in the soil under a hyperaccumulator plant's canopy may inhibit another plant species, thus resulting in “elemental
allelopathy”. Metal enrichment of soil under hyperaccumulators also may result in commensalism if another plant species (possibly
another hyperaccumulator) derives a benefit from growing in the metal-enriched soil under the canopy of a hyperaccumulating
overstory plant. It seems likely that high-metal plant litter will host a specialized microflora of decomposers and may affect
nutrient cycling rates. Mutualist biotic interactions also may be affected by the elevated metal contents of hyperaccumulating
species. Mycorrhizal fungi may form mutualisms with hyperaccumulators, but the phenomenon is poorly-explored. The few cases
investigated to date have not detected mycorrhizae. Pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms may require biotic vectors that
might be affected by plant metal content. Hyperaccumulating plants may have solved this dilemma in three ways. First, some
may rely on abiotic vectors for pollen or seed dispersal. Second, biotic vectors used by these species may have varied diets
and thus dilute metal intake to non-toxic levels. Finally, biotic vectors may have evolved tolerance of elevated dietary levels
of metals, and perhaps have become specialists on hyperaccumulator species.
Received 7 November 1997; accepted 28 December 1997. |
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Keywords: | , Allelopathy - elemental defences - herbivory - mutualism - plant-animal interactions |
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