Certain species of birch trees use chemicals from neighboring plants to defend its self. Birch trees use this to protect itself from herbivores. This kind of defense has been seen in other birch trees and plants after they have been attacked by herbivores. Click here to read more.
Plants Discover the Benefits of Good Neighbors in Strategy Against Herbivores
March 23rd, 2010 by capelomd · 2 Comments · Biology
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This is very interesting how plants use plants next to them to defend themselves with the chemicals that the tree next to them release after being damaged by an herbivore.
I read that in the article, the chemicals were ledene, ledol and palustrol. The role of these sticky chemicals are to either attract or detract different herbivore insects and other bugs. This was found out by experiments done in a lab.
Other then that, great post.
I like that capelomd said that Birch trees use these chemicals that it absorbs to protect itself from herbivores. I also like that munozjr put what the chemicals are. The chemicals are ledene, ledol, and palustrol. I also found in the article that the chemicals can also attract the natural enemy of a herbivore, thus protecting itself from that herbivore. This founding also confirms a Scandinavian folklore. The folklore says that wrapping winter clothes and branches of Birch would keep bugs from eating the wool.
Q3-P2