| testing chemical defence based on pyrrolizidine alkaloids | pyrrolizidine alkaloids are considered the primary defence mechanism in aposematic ithomiine butterflies and arctiid moths. despite evidence that pyrrolizidine alkaloids are effective against some invertebrate predators, proof for a protective function of pyrrolizidine alkaloids against vertebrate predators is fragmented. the present work shows that the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrot-aline is unpalatable to the pileated finch, coryphospingus pileatusand that the unpalatability is learned throug ... | 1997 | 9344450 |