Journal
ECOLOGY
Volume 85, Issue 3, Pages 603-608Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1890/03-3049
Keywords
beavers; chemistry; community genetics; cottonwoods; ecological genetics; genetic markers; herbivory, selective; hybridization; phytochemistry; populus; tannins; terrestrial-aquatic linkages
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Ecological genetics is increasingly recognized as critical to understanding interactions among organisms and ecosystem processes. Using a common garden with pure and hybrid cottonwood trees of known genotype, two years of field surveys, and a cafeteria feeding experiment, we link introgression of Fremont genetic markers, condensed tannins (a genetically based plant trait), and foraging by beavers. These data support two major arguments. First, hybridization is an important mechanism for the transmission of ecologically functional traits. Second, links between a genetically based plant trait in a dominant riparian-forest,tree species and the foraging behavior of beavers, an ecosystem engineer, emphasize that genetically based plant traits can directly and indirectly link population, community, and ecosystem processes.
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