The purpose of this note is not to support any particular hypothesis explaining the evolution of red coloured autumn leaves, but to present evidence that shows existing knowledge does not support one such hypothesis - that red coloured leaves evolved as a signal to protect trees from aphids feeding and laying eggs on them in autumn. An alternative hypothesis is that autumn-feeding aphids are senescence-feeders, evolved to feed only on senescing leaves. These aphids are programmed to detect and feed on such leaves when they are still green and yellow and actively exporting their nutrients. Aphids reject or ignore red leaves because they are no longer good food, not because they are protecting the trees from the aphids.
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Oikos
卷
118
期
11
页码
1610
- 1612
ISSN
0030-1299
出版者
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
其它主题
Herring
语言
英语
注释
Includes references
类型
Text; Journal Article
2024-02-29
MODS