This review was based on Paige and Whitman (1987), who showed that browsed plants of Ipomopsis aggregata had greater seed production than unbrowsed plants, which supports Owen and Wiegert's (1976) prediction that consumers can increase plant fitness. Aarssen and Irwin (1991) suggest that the continuing debate over the interpretations concerning why and how plants may benefit from being eaten will arrive at a basis for more common ground if selection factors, in addition to herbivory, are taken into consideration. They also suggest, however, that in cases where shoot apices are removed by herbivores, increased yield responses may have little to do with an adaptive consequence of selection involving herbivory and more to do with an indirect consequence of selection from herbivory.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.