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Title: The Ecology of Plant Chemistry and Multi-Species Interactions in Diversified Agroecosystems
Author: Silva, Rodolfo F.; Rabeschini, Gabriela B. P.; Peinado, Giovanna L. R.; Cosmo, Leandro G.; Rezende, Luiz H. G.; Murayama, Rafael K.; Pareja, Martín
Year: 2018
Is part of: Frontiers in Plant Science, v. 9, p. 1713 -
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01713

Citation: Silva, Rodolfo F.; Rabeschini, Gabriela B. P.; Peinado, Giovanna L. R.; Cosmo, Leandro G.; Rezende, Luiz H. G.; Murayama, Rafael K.; Pareja, Martín; The Ecology of Plant Chemistry and Multi-Species Interactions in Diversified Agroecosystems. Frontiers in Plant Science, v.9, p. 1713-, 2018

Abstract: Over the past few years, our knowledge of how ecological interactions shape the structure and dynamics of natural communities has rapidly advanced. Plant chemical traits play key roles in these processes because they mediate a diverse range of direct and indirect interactions in a community-wide context. Many chemically mediated interactions have been extensively studied in industrial cropping systems, and thus have focused on simplified, pairwise and linear interactions that rarely incorporate a community perspective. A contrasting approach considers the agroecosystem as a functioning whole, in which food production occurs. It offers an opportunity to better understand how plant chemical traits mediate complex interactions which can enhance or hinder ecosystem functions. In this paper, we argue that studying chemically mediated interactions in agroecosystems is essential to comprehend how agroecosystem services emerge and how they can be guaranteed through ecosystem management. First, we discuss how plant chemical traits affect and are affected by ecological interactions. We then explore research questions and future directions on how studying chemical mediation in complex agroecosystems can help us understand the emergence and management of ecosystem services, specifically biological control and pollination.



Funding: This study was financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) through scholarships to RS, GR, LC, LR and RM. The study was also financed by FAPESP, through project 2014/50316-7 and CNPq through the INCT/HYMPAR/SUDESTE.
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