Nasturtium officinale and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus: role of secondary metabolites and nitrogen content in food preference.
dc.contributor.author | Clark, Patricia | en_US |
dc.coverage.spatial | Carp Creek | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2007-06-14T22:27:52Z | |
dc.date.available | 2007-06-14T22:27:52Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1995 | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/54582 | |
dc.description.abstract | Nasturtium officinale (watercress) possesses the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. This system is regarded as a classic example of chemical defense for terrestrial crucifers. Damage of watercress initiates myrosinase mediated hydrolysis of phenylethyl glucosinolates to a toxic end product, 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate. We investigated the potential role of 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate in the avoidance of watercress by the co-occurring amphipod, Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. This was accomplished by performing a multiple choice food test. The Gammarus were allowed to feed for 24-hours on three types of watercress leaf tissues: 1) Fresh green watercress leaf tissue that had a high nitrogen content, as well as a high level of secondary chemicals, 2) Senesced yellow leaf tissue, which contained both low nitrogen and secondary chemical levels, and 3) green leaf tissue that was frozen and leached in stream water to deactivate the myrosinase enzyme, thus resulting in no secondary chemical content, yet maintaining a high nitrogen content. Observations were then recorded on the mean area eaten of each type of leaf tissue. The results of the multiple choice test show that Gammarus prefer food with low glucosinolate, but high nitrogen content. These results provide evidence that the glucosinolate-myrosinase system, recognized as the principal deterrent system of terrestrial crucifers, is the feeding deterrent in watercress, and also suggests that in the absence of a functioning deterrent system, nitrogen content may influence consumption. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 323869 bytes | |
dc.format.extent | 3144 bytes | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.format.mimetype | text/plain | |
dc.relation.haspart | Graph | en_US |
dc.subject | General Ecology | en_US |
dc.subject.other | AQUATIC | en_US |
dc.subject.other | INVERTEBRATES | en_US |
dc.subject.other | VASCULAR | en_US |
dc.subject.other | PLANTS | en_US |
dc.subject.other | GAMMARUS | en_US |
dc.subject.other | NASTURTIUM | en_US |
dc.subject.other | CRUCIFERAE | en_US |
dc.subject.other | FEEDING | en_US |
dc.subject.other | BEHAVIOR | en_US |
dc.subject.other | CHEMICAL | en_US |
dc.subject.other | DEFENSE | en_US |
dc.subject.other | SECONDARY | en_US |
dc.subject.other | COMPOUNDS | en_US |
dc.subject.other | HERBIVORY | en_US |
dc.subject.other | MACROPHYTES | en_US |
dc.subject.other | GLUCOSINOLATES | en_US |
dc.subject.other | MYROSINASE | en_US |
dc.title | Nasturtium officinale and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus: role of secondary metabolites and nitrogen content in food preference. | en_US |
dc.type | Working Paper | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevel | Natural Resource and Environment | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbtoplevel | Science | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | Biological Station, University of Michigan | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationumcampus | Ann Arbor | en_US |
dc.description.bitstreamurl | http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54582/1/3021.pdf | en_US |
dc.description.filedescription | Description of 3021.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station. | en_US |
dc.owningcollname | Biological Station, University of Michigan (UMBS) |
Files in this item
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.