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. 2015 May;75(1):78-87.
doi: 10.3398/064.075.0109.

ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF WYOMING BIG SAGEBRUSH (ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA SSP. WYOMINGENSIS) VARIES SPATIALLY AND IS NOT RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF A SAGEBRUSH DIETARY SPECIALIST

Xinzhu Pu  1 , Lisa Lam  2 , Kristina Gehlken  2 , Amy C Ulappa  3 , Janet L Rachlow  4 , Jennifer Sorensen Forbey  2
Affiliations

ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF WYOMING BIG SAGEBRUSH (ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA SSP. WYOMINGENSIS) VARIES SPATIALLY AND IS NOT RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF A SAGEBRUSH DIETARY SPECIALIST

Xinzhu Pu et al. West N Am Nat. 2015 May.

Abstract

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) in North America is an abundant native plant species that is ecologically and evolutionarily adapted to have a diverse array of biologically active chemicals. Several of these chemicals, specifically polyphenols, have antioxidant activity that may act as biomarkers of biotic or abiotic stress. This study investigated the spatial variation of antioxidant capacity, as well as the relationship between a mammalian herbivore and antioxidant capacity in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis). We quantified and compared total polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts from sagebrush plants from different spatial scales and at different levels of browsing by a specialist mammalian herbivore, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). We found that antioxidant capacity of sagebrush extracts was positively correlated with total polyphenol content. Antioxidant capacity varied spatially within and among plants. Antioxidant capacity in sagebrush was not related to either browsing intensity or duration of association with rabbits. We propose that the patterns of antioxidant capacity observed in sagebrush may be a result of spatial variation in abiotic stress experienced by sagebrush. Antioxidants could therefore provide a biomarker of environmental stress for sagebrush that could aid in management and conservation of this plant in the threatened sagebrush steppe.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relationship between total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity in populations of Wyoming sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis) from 2 distinct geographic locations (Camas Prairie and Leadore) in Idaho, USA. Open markers indicate plants low-browsed by pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) and closed markers indicate high-browsed plants. Significant positive correlation between total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity was found in both locations (r2 = 0.88 for Camas Prairie; r2 = 0.87 for Leadore).
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