Selective Fruit Abscission by Juniperus monosperma as an Induced Defense against Predators

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Abstract
Abscised fruits of Juniperus monosperma were more likely to contain predator larvae than were undamaged fruits. Larvae in abscised fruits were more likely to die than larvae in fruits still attached to the tree. Selective abscission of damaged fruits is viewed as an adaptive plant defense for two reasons: (1) abscission reduces the plant''s losses by terminating any further investment into a doomed propagule; (2) abscission may reduce the number of fruit predators that mature to attack future fruit crops.

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