In Colorado, Juenger and Bergelson investigated whether early season browsing affects the fitness cost of self-pollination in scarlet gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata, by using clipping and emasculation treatments. Clipping significantly reduced the production of flowers, fruits, and seeds whereas emasculation significantly increased the production of these components of female fitness. In addition, a significant interaction between the clipping and emasculation treatments was detected when considering four components of fitness simultaneously; emasculation led to an increase in the fitness of unclipped plants but not clipped plants. Possibly, damaged plants may experience reduced self-pollination due to reductions in pollinator visitation or effectiveness. Alternatively, damaged plants may simply lack the resources to benefit from emasculation. The results support the notion that herbivory can have indirect effects on plant fitness through effects on other plant-animal interactions.
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