Version 1
: Received: 25 August 2023 / Approved: 28 August 2023 / Online: 29 August 2023 (04:01:18 CEST)
How to cite:
Rajan, V. Latex Levels in Forage Exerted a Selective Pressure on Foregut Evolution in Herbivores. Preprints2023, 2023081907. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1907.v1
Rajan, V. Latex Levels in Forage Exerted a Selective Pressure on Foregut Evolution in Herbivores. Preprints 2023, 2023081907. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1907.v1
Rajan, V. Latex Levels in Forage Exerted a Selective Pressure on Foregut Evolution in Herbivores. Preprints2023, 2023081907. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1907.v1
APA Style
Rajan, V. (2023). Latex Levels in Forage Exerted a Selective Pressure on Foregut Evolution in Herbivores. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1907.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Rajan, V. 2023 "Latex Levels in Forage Exerted a Selective Pressure on Foregut Evolution in Herbivores" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1907.v1
Abstract
In the struggle for survival, all organisms have evolved adaptations for protection from predation. Angiosperms are among the most abundant producers on the planet, but they are trapped in a precarious symbiosis with animals for pollination and fruit dispersal, while also having to deter herbivory. About 10% of all angiosperms produce the deterrent latex from ubiquitous isoprene precursors. Latex is an aqueous suspension of rubber particles and other compounds which works as an antifeedant by clogging chewing mouthparts and by coagulating into a solid in stomach acid. A survey of stomach pHs from various animals supports the hypothesis that foregut-fermenting ruminants have evolved the capacity to evade latex coagulation due to the presence of anterior digestive chambers with near-neutral to alkaline pH before it enters the acidic abomasum. Hindgut-fermenting animals lack this adaptation and have to eat forage which is low in latex, such as grasses. The latex-adaptive foregut browsers vs. latex-maladapted hindgut grazer hypothesis has implications for both livestock and zoo animals which may be provided with forage that is not optimal for their gut health. Further, ruminants and herbivorous tadpoles are at risk for damage by popular bioinsecticides such as Bt which are activated by alkaline gut pH.
Biology and Life Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
