Congratulations: The new paper by Xue Xiao was just included in an issue of Ecosphere: The effect of drought-induced leaf traits on Ficus leaf palatability is species specific. In her greenhouse experiment with Ficus trees, she showed that drought indirectly affected leaf palatability was affected via drought-induced leaf traits in a species-specific manner. Drought intensity and duration decreased leaf water content, resulting in decreased leaf palatability in F. benjamina and F. lyrata. Leaf defensive traits such as flavonoid concentration were affected by drought intensity and decreased leaf palatability in F. carica. Drought influenced the leaf traits of F. elastica, but none of them affected leaf palatability.
From behind the scene: This experiment represented a typical Covid product, when Xue was suppose to be in the tropical forest but we were only allowed to stay in Czech. Therefore, we quickly purchased Ficus trees, greenhouses, and with masks on, we assembled the experiment.
Work pictures: Feeding trials (1-2), starting on empty meadow (3), green house building (4-5), happy Ficus plants before we started the drought treatments (6). Xue replanting and setting her treatments.
Full text available: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4831
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