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Ernesto Gianoli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Uneven abundances determine nestedness in Climbing Plant-host interaction networks
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 2017Co-Authors: Joaquín Calatayud, Jaime Madrigal-gonzález, Ernesto Gianoli, Joaquín Hortal, Asier HerreroAbstract:Abstract Nestedness is a common pattern in interaction networks. However, its ecological and evolutionary meaning is under debate. Evidence shows that nestedness in mutualistic networks may be just a consequence of the species–abundance distribution. This has been questioned as abundance itself could be influenced by differences in generalism between species. Host-parasite networks in Plant communities also show nested patterns, but their relationship with abundance has been seldom addressed. Importantly, an assessment of the potentially different effect of the number of interacting species ( i.e. generalism levels) on the size of parasite and host populations can help understanding the role of abundance in determining both generalism and nestedness. Here we show that nestedness follows abundance expectations in an interaction network of Climbing Plants ( i.e. structural parasites) and their tree and shrub hosts. Our results also point to a direct effect of abundance on both nestedness and generalism levels because species degree does not deviate from abundance expectations for both Climbing Plants and their hosts. Further, we found a similar level of discordance between generalization (a generalism measure independent of species abundance) and abundance for both parties. Our findings provide evidence that the factors underlying uneven abundance distributions can induce nestedness in interaction networks. We stress the importance of neutral processes related to species dominance as major determinants of nestedness in host-parasite networks.
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leaf mimicry in a Climbing Plant protects against herbivory
Current Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Ernesto Gianoli, Fernando CarrascourraAbstract:Summary Mimicry refers to adaptive similarity between a mimic organism and a model. Mimicry in animals is rather common, whereas documented cases in Plants are rare, and the associated benefits are seldom elucidated [1, 2]. We show the occurrence of leaf mimicry in a Climbing Plant endemic to a temperate rainforest. The woody vine Boquila trifoliolata mimics the leaves of its supporting trees in terms of size, shape, color, orientation, petiole length, and/or tip spininess. Moreover, sequential leaf mimicry occurs when a single individual vine is associated with different tree species. Leaves of unsupported vines differed from leaves of Climbing Plants closely associated with tree foliage but did not differ from those of vines Climbing onto leafless trunks. Consistent with an herbivory-avoidance hypothesis, leaf herbivory on unsupported vines was greater than that on vines Climbing on trees but was greatest on vines Climbing onto leafless trunks. Thus, B. trifoliolata gains protection against herbivory not merely by Climbing and thus avoiding ground herbivores [3] but also by Climbing onto trees whose leaves are mimicked. Unlike earlier cases of Plant mimicry or crypsis, in which the Plant roughly resembles a background or color pattern [4–7] or mimics a single host [8, 9], B. trifoliolata is able to mimic several hosts.
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ecophysiological traits may explain the abundance of Climbing Plant species across the light gradient in a temperate rainforest
PLOS ONE, 2012Co-Authors: Ernesto Gianoli, Alfredo Saldana, Mylthon JimenezcastilloAbstract:Climbing Plants are a key component of rainforests, but mechanistic approaches to their distribution and abundance are scarce. In a southern temperate rainforest, we addressed whether the dominance of Climbing Plants across light environments is associated with the expression of ecophysiological traits. In mature forest and canopy gaps, we measured leaf size, specific leaf area, photosynthetic rate, and dark respiration in six of the most abundant woody vines. Mean values of traits and their phenotypic change (%) between mature forest and canopy gaps were predictor variables. Leaf size and specific leaf area were not significantly associated with Climbing Plant dominance. Variation in gas-exchange traits between mature forest and canopy gaps explained, at least partly, the dominance of climbers in this forest. A greater increase in photosynthetic rate and a lower increase in dark respiration rate when canopy openings occur were related to the success of Climbing Plant species. Dominant climbers showed a strategy of maximizing exploitation of resource availability but minimizing metabolic costs. Results may reflect phenotypic plasticity or genetic differentiation in ecophysiological traits between light environments. It is suggested that the dominant climbers in this temperate rainforest would be able to cope with forest clearings due to human activities.
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drought and leaf damage limit the search for support in the Climbing Plant ipomoea purpurea l roth convolvulaceae la sequia y el dano foliar limitan la busqueda de soporte en la Planta trepadora ipomoea purpurea l roth convolvulaceae
2011Co-Authors: Cristian Atala, Ernesto Gianoli, Cristian Cordero, J A ColomaAbstract:There is evidence that some Climbing Plants increase their twining rate after leaf damage, thus avoiding ground herbivores, and that drought limits this induced response. However, it is unknown whether leaf damage and drought affect the search for support, an ecologically relevant process for Climbing Plants. We evaluated the combined effect of drought and leaf damage on support searching in the twining vine Ipomoea pupurea (Convolvulaceae). Plants were assigned to a combination of three watering treatments (regular watering, moderate drought, and severe drought) and two damage treatments (control and 50% defoliation). We placed a stake at 15 cm from the stem and recorded the time to successful twining (360° turn). We also measured some Plant functional traits to explore possible mechanisms. Leaf damage decreased time to successful twining in all treatments with the exception of severe drought. Severe drought decreased Plant growth, particularly when combined with leaf damage. In nature, Climbing Plants are usually not in contact with a support in the early stages. The searching behavior seems to increase with leaf damage, but it is restricted by water shortage. Plants experiencing both leaf damage and severe drought will be less likely to find a support, resulting in higher probability of further leaf damage.
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drought and leaf damage limit the search for support in the Climbing Plant ipomoea purpurea l roth convolvulaceae
Gayana Botanica, 2011Co-Authors: Cristian Atala, Ernesto Gianoli, Cristian CorderoAbstract:Hay evidencia de que las Plantas trepadoras aumentan su tasa de enredo luego del dano foliar, evitando asi a los herbivoros, y que la sequia limita esta respuesta. Sin embargo, se desconoce si la combinacion del dano foliar y la sequia afectan a la busqueda de soporte, un proceso ecologicamente relevante para las Plantas trepadoras. En este trabajo evaluamos el efecto combinado de la sequia y el dano foliar en busqueda de soporte en la enredadera Ipomoea pupurea (Convolvulaceae). Las Plantas se asignaron a una combinacion de tres niveles de riego (riego normal, sequia moderada y sequia intensa) y dos niveles de dano (control y 50% de defoliacion). Se coloco un soporte a 15 cm del tallo y se registro el tiempo de enredo efectivo (giro de 360° alrededor del soporte). Tambien se midieron algunos rasgos funcionales para explorar posibles mecanismos. El dano foliar disminuyo el tiempo de enredo efectivo en todos los tratamientos con excepcion del de sequia intensa. La sequia intensa disminuyo el crecimiento de las Plantas, particularmente al combinarla con dano foliar. En la naturaleza, las Plantas trepadoras usualmente no estan en contacto con un soporte en sus etapas iniciales. La conducta de busqueda de soporte parece aumentar con el dano foliar, pero disminuye con la sequia. Plantas que experimenten simultaneamente dano foliar y sequia intensa tendran menor probabilidad de encontrar un soporte, resultando en una mayor posibilidad de dano foliar.
Andreas Lendlein - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cactus-inspired design principles for soft robotics based on 3D printed hydrogel-elastomer systems
Materials and Design, 2021Co-Authors: Anil Bastola, Nadia Rodriguez, Marc Behl, Patricia Soffiatti, Nick P. Rowe, Andreas LendleinAbstract:Plants have evolved many capabilities to anchor, position their stems and leaves favourably, and adapt themselves to different environmental conditions by virtue of growing. Selenicereus setaceus is a cactus and is an impressive example of a Climbing Plant found mostly in the Atlantic forest formations of southern Brazil. This cactus displays striking changes in stem geometry along different stages of growth: older parts are circular while the younger parts are star-like in shape. Such a transformation in shape optimizes its flexural rigidity and allows the cactus to search in three-dimensionally complex environments. Its organisation offers novel schemes for the design of Plant-inspired soft robotic systems. In this paper, we have created multi-material systems for soft robotics that display controlled movements as well as mimicking the cactus stem geometries from star-like to circular. The unique star-shaped geometry is 3D printed using a soft elastomer and hydrogel is used as an actuating component. Through anisotropic swelling, the hydrogel-elastomer system adjusts its configuration and shows a controlled movement. Furthermore, the isotropic swelling of the hydrogel of the artificial cactus multi-material system result in the change in shape from star-like to circular as the cactus does naturally in the tropical forest.
Anil Bastola - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cactus-inspired design principles for soft robotics based on 3D printed hydrogel-elastomer systems
Materials and Design, 2021Co-Authors: Anil Bastola, Nadia Rodriguez, Marc Behl, Patricia Soffiatti, Nick P. Rowe, Andreas LendleinAbstract:Plants have evolved many capabilities to anchor, position their stems and leaves favourably, and adapt themselves to different environmental conditions by virtue of growing. Selenicereus setaceus is a cactus and is an impressive example of a Climbing Plant found mostly in the Atlantic forest formations of southern Brazil. This cactus displays striking changes in stem geometry along different stages of growth: older parts are circular while the younger parts are star-like in shape. Such a transformation in shape optimizes its flexural rigidity and allows the cactus to search in three-dimensionally complex environments. Its organisation offers novel schemes for the design of Plant-inspired soft robotic systems. In this paper, we have created multi-material systems for soft robotics that display controlled movements as well as mimicking the cactus stem geometries from star-like to circular. The unique star-shaped geometry is 3D printed using a soft elastomer and hydrogel is used as an actuating component. Through anisotropic swelling, the hydrogel-elastomer system adjusts its configuration and shows a controlled movement. Furthermore, the isotropic swelling of the hydrogel of the artificial cactus multi-material system result in the change in shape from star-like to circular as the cactus does naturally in the tropical forest.
Marta Lam - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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shading performance of a vertical deciduous Climbing Plant canopy
Building and Environment, 2010Co-Authors: Marta Lam, Andrew MilleAbstract:Abstract Deciduous Climbing Plant canopies strategically integrated to building facades can act as dynamic solar shading devices responsive to the seasonal climatic changes. Maximum shading occurs in the summer when the Plant is at its peak growth. The shedding of leaves in autumn and winter reduces the shading and allows beneficial solar radiation to be absorbed by the opaque surface of the building facade or penetrated through the windows to the building interior. Although Climbing Plants have long been used for moderating the microclimate of buildings, there are very few scientific investigations to quantify such effects. This paper reports the findings of a study with specific focus on the shading performance of a vertical deciduous Climbing Plant canopy. It justifies the selection of Virginia Creeper as an appropriate Plant for growth in the UK climate and describes the Planting, monitoring and analysis procedures adopted to determine a proposed dynamic Bioshading Coefficient Function – which is used to represent the shading performance of the Climbing Plant canopy over its annual growing and wilting cycle. A thermal model was developed which identified the key parameters required for establishing the Bioshading Coefficients. Two Climbing Plant canopies (referred to as Bioshaders) were set up in an existing building in Southeast UK and monitored for 2 years. Measured data were used to calculate a series of daily Bioshading Coefficients which were subsequently applied to establish the Bioshading Coefficient Function. The research also identified issues affecting the indoor environment as a result of the application of Bioshaders.
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assessing the shading performance of Climbing Plant canopies
Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, 2007Co-Authors: Marta Lam, Andrew MillerAbstract:There are many examples of integrating external Climbing Plants as shading devices to glazed building facades. Apart from providing solar shading, Plants can improve the environmental quality such as noise reduction, better air quality and alleviating the urban ‘heat island’ effect. In temperate climates such as the UK, deciduous Plants can be used to take the additional advantage of allowing beneficial solar penetration in the winter. There are very limited studies of the shading performance of Plant canopies mainly due to the difficulties of measuring the dynamic growth behaviour of Plants that influence the solar transmission. The research reported in this paper proposes methodologies and techniques to provide an assessment of the shading performance of a deciduous Climbing Plant canopy. The research involved the development of the methodologies, the measurement of area coverage of different leaf layers, the measurement of solar transmittances of leaf layers and the integration of experimental results to establish the proposed shading coefficient. The experimental canopy, on which Virginia Creeper was Planted, was setup at the University of Brighton and monitored for two years. The research outcomes are reported and significance of the results, potential applications and future work are discussed.
Andrew Mille - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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shading performance of a vertical deciduous Climbing Plant canopy
Building and Environment, 2010Co-Authors: Marta Lam, Andrew MilleAbstract:Abstract Deciduous Climbing Plant canopies strategically integrated to building facades can act as dynamic solar shading devices responsive to the seasonal climatic changes. Maximum shading occurs in the summer when the Plant is at its peak growth. The shedding of leaves in autumn and winter reduces the shading and allows beneficial solar radiation to be absorbed by the opaque surface of the building facade or penetrated through the windows to the building interior. Although Climbing Plants have long been used for moderating the microclimate of buildings, there are very few scientific investigations to quantify such effects. This paper reports the findings of a study with specific focus on the shading performance of a vertical deciduous Climbing Plant canopy. It justifies the selection of Virginia Creeper as an appropriate Plant for growth in the UK climate and describes the Planting, monitoring and analysis procedures adopted to determine a proposed dynamic Bioshading Coefficient Function – which is used to represent the shading performance of the Climbing Plant canopy over its annual growing and wilting cycle. A thermal model was developed which identified the key parameters required for establishing the Bioshading Coefficients. Two Climbing Plant canopies (referred to as Bioshaders) were set up in an existing building in Southeast UK and monitored for 2 years. Measured data were used to calculate a series of daily Bioshading Coefficients which were subsequently applied to establish the Bioshading Coefficient Function. The research also identified issues affecting the indoor environment as a result of the application of Bioshaders.