PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 34: Herbivory
Thursday, August 11, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Defensive role of stinging hairs of nettles against deer browsing.
Kato, Teiko*,1, Ishida, Kiyoshi2, Sato, Hiroaki1, 1 Nara women's University, Nara-city, Japan2
ABSTRACT- Our previous study has indicated that the leaves of nettles (Urtica thunbergiana)in an area where a large deer population (Cervus nippon)have higher density of stinging hairs than those of other areas where there are no deer, and this difference is genetically based. To examine the defensive role of stinging hairs of nettles against deer browsing,we planted young nettles of a deer-inhabiting area(Nara)and a deer-free area(Sakurai)in Nara and Sakurai as follows:(1) nettles were enclosed by deer proof cages so that they were not exposed to deer browsing ;(2)nettles were planted next to the cages so that they were exposed to deer browsing. In Nara and Sakurai,we settled four cages within which both nettles of Nara and Sakurai were planted, arranging nettles of Nara and Sakurai close to each cage.In both Nara and Sakurai, caged nettles showed normal growth and the nettles of Nara had more stinging hairs than those of Sakurai.The latter tendency was observed in non-caged nettles in Sakurai.In Nara, non-caged nettles of Nara were less likely to be browsed by deer than those of Sakurai.These results suggest that stinging hairs have an important role in defending nettles against deer browsing.
Key words: Transplantation, Cage, Stinging nettle