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How do plants defend themselves against herbivores?

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Plants have developed various mechanisms to defend themselves against herbivores. Some common defense mechanisms include:

  1. Chemical defenses: Plants produce toxic compounds to deter herbivores from feeding on them. Examples of chemical defenses include alkaloids, tannins, and terpenes.

  2. Physical defenses: Plants have physical structures such as thorns, spines, and tough leaves that make it difficult for herbivores to eat them.

  3. Indirect defenses: Plants can also attract predators of herbivores, such as predatory insects, to help protect them.

  4. Plant secondary metabolites: Plants produce secondary metabolites that can be toxic or unpalatable to herbivores.

Overall, plants have evolved a combination of strategies to protect themselves from being eaten by herbivores.

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