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Kempel A, Allan E, Gossner MM, Jochum M, Grace JB, Wardle DA. From bottom-up to top-down control of invertebrate herbivores in a retrogressive chronosequence. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:411-424. [PMID: 36688259 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In the long-term absence of disturbance, ecosystems often enter a decline or retrogressive phase which leads to reductions in primary productivity, plant biomass, nutrient cycling and foliar quality. However, the consequences of ecosystem retrogression for higher trophic levels such as herbivores and predators, are less clear. Using a post-fire forested island-chronosequence across which retrogression occurs, we provide evidence that nutrient availability strongly controls invertebrate herbivore biomass when predators are few, but that there is a switch from bottom-up to top-down control when predators are common. This trophic flip in herbivore control probably arises because invertebrate predators respond to alternative energy channels from the adjacent aquatic matrix, which were independent of terrestrial plant biomass. Our results suggest that effects of nutrient limitation resulting from ecosystem retrogression on trophic cascades are modified by nutrient-independent variation in predator abundance, and this calls for a more holistic approach to trophic ecology to better understand herbivore effects on plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kempel
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.,WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland.,Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Centre CERC, Davos, Switzerland.,University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eric Allan
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Entomology, WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.,ETH Zurich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Malte Jochum
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Leipzig University, Institute of Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - David A Wardle
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.,Nanyang Technological University, Asian School of the Environment, Singapore, Singapore
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Butler OM, Lewis T, Maunsell SC, Rezaei Rashti M, Elser JJ, Mackey B, Chen C. The stoichiometric signature of high‐frequency fire in forest floor food webs. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Orpheus M. Butler
- Australian Rivers Institute and Griffith School of Environment and Science Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Tom Lewis
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Agri‐Science Queensland University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore DC Queensland Australia
| | - Sarah C. Maunsell
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Mehran Rezaei Rashti
- Australian Rivers Institute and Griffith School of Environment and Science Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - James J. Elser
- Flathead Lake Biological Station University of Montana Polson Montana USA
| | - Brendan Mackey
- Griffith Climate Change Response Program Griffith University Gold Coast City Queensland Australia
| | - Chengrong Chen
- Australian Rivers Institute and Griffith School of Environment and Science Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
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Kristensen JA, Michelsen A, Metcalfe DB. Background insect herbivory increases with local elevation but makes minor contribution to element cycling along natural gradients in the Subarctic. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11684-11698. [PMID: 33144993 PMCID: PMC7593201 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbivores can exert major controls over biogeochemical cycling. As invertebrates are highly sensitive to temperature shifts (ectothermal), the abundances of insects in high-latitude systems, where climate warming is rapid, is expected to increase. In subarctic mountain birch forests, research has focussed on geometrid moth outbreaks, while the contribution of background insect herbivory (BIH) to elemental cycling is poorly constrained. In northern Sweden, we estimated BIH along 9 elevational gradients distributed across a gradient in regional elevation, temperature, and precipitation to allow evaluation of consistency in local versus regional variation. We converted foliar loss via BIH to fluxes of C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from the birch canopy to the soil to compare with other relevant soil inputs of the same elements and assessed different abiotic and biotic drivers of the observed variability. We found that leaf area loss due to BIH was ~1.6% on average. This is comparable to estimates from tundra, but considerably lower than ecosystems at lower latitudes. The C, N, and P fluxes from canopy to soil associated with BIH were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the soil input from senesced litter and external nutrient sources such as biological N fixation, atmospheric deposition of N, and P weathering estimated from the literature. Despite the minor contribution to overall elemental cycling in subarctic birch forests, the higher quality and earlier timing of the input of herbivore deposits to soils compared to senesced litter may make this contribution disproportionally important for various ecosystem functions. BIH increased significantly with leaf N content as well as local elevation along each transect, yet showed no significant relationship with temperature or humidity, nor the commonly used temperature proxy, absolute elevation. The lack of consistency between the local and regional elevational trends calls for caution when using elevation gradients as climate proxies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeppe A. Kristensen
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
- Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenlandCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Anders Michelsen
- Department of BiologyTerrestrial Ecology SectionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for PermafrostUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Daniel B. Metcalfe
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental SciencesUmeå Umeå UniversitetUmeåSweden
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Metcalfe DB, Crutsinger GM, Kumordzi BB, Wardle DA. Nutrient fluxes from insect herbivory increase during ecosystem retrogression in boreal forest. Ecology 2016; 97:124-32. [PMID: 27008782 DOI: 10.1890/15-0302.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ecological theory, developed largely from ungulates and grassland systems, predicts that herbivory accelerates nutrient cycling more in productive than unproductive systems. This prediction may be important for understanding patterns of ecosystem change over time and space, but its applicability to other ecosystems and types of herbivore remain uncertain. We estimated fluxes of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from herbivory of a common tree species (Betula pubescens) by a common species of herbivorous insect along a -5000-yr boreal chronosequence. Contrary to established theory, fluxes of N and P via herbivory increased along the chronosequence despite a decline in plant productivity. The herbivore-mediated N and P fluxes to the soil are comparable to the main alternative pathway for these nutrients via tree leaf litterfall. We conclude that insect herbivores can make large contributions to nutrient cycling even in unproductive systems, and influence the rate and pattern of ecosystem development, particularly in systems with low external nutrient inputs.
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Asplund J, Wardle DA. Within-species variability is the main driver of community-level responses of traits of epiphytes across a long-term chronosequence. Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Asplund
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SE-901 83 Umeå Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; NO-1432 Aas Norway
| | - David A. Wardle
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SE-901 83 Umeå Sweden
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Urban J. A contribution to the knowledge of biology and harmfulness of Deporaus betulae (L.) (Coleoptera, Attelabidae). ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS 2013. [DOI: 10.11118/actaun201260060317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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How does pedogenesis drive plant diversity? Trends Ecol Evol 2013; 28:331-40. [PMID: 23561322 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2013.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most species-rich plant communities occur on ancient, strongly weathered soils, whereas those on recently developed soils tend to be less diverse. Mechanisms underlying this well-known pattern, however, remain unresolved. Here, we present a conceptual model describing alternative mechanisms by which pedogenesis (the process of soil formation) might drive plant diversity. We suggest that long-term soil chronosequences offer great, yet largely untapped, potential as 'natural experiments' to determine edaphic controls over plant diversity. Finally, we discuss how our conceptual model can be evaluated quantitatively using structural equation modeling to advance multivariate theories about the determinants of local plant diversity. This should help us to understand broader-scale diversity patterns, such as the latitudinal gradient of plant diversity.
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Asplund J, Sandling A, Wardle DA. Lichen specific thallus mass and secondary compounds change across a retrogressive fire-driven chronosequence. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49081. [PMID: 23145078 PMCID: PMC3493489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the long-term absence of major disturbances ecosystems enter a state of retrogression, which involves declining soil fertility and consequently a reduction in decomposition rates. Recent studies have looked at how plant traits such as specific leaf mass and amounts of secondary compounds respond to declining soil fertility during retrogression, but there are no comparable studies for lichen traits despite increasing recognition of the role that lichens can play in ecosystem processes. We studied a group of 30 forested islands in northern Sweden differing greatly in fire history, and collectively representing a retrogressive chronosequence, spanning 5000 years. We used this system to explore how specific thallus mass (STM) and carbon based secondary compounds (CBSCs) change in three common epiphytic lichen species (Hypogymnia phsyodes, Melanohalea olivacea and Parmelia sulcata) as soil fertility declines during this retrogression. We found that STMs of lichens increased sharply during retrogression, and for all species soil N to P ratio (which increased during retrogression) was a strong predictor of STM. When expressed per unit area, medullary CBSCs in all species and cortical CBSCs in P. sulcata increased during retrogression. Meanwhile, when expressed per unit mass, only cortical CBSCs in H. physodes responded to retrogression, and in the opposite direction. Given that lichen functional traits are likely to be important in driving ecological processes that drive nutrient and carbon cycling in the way that plant functional traits are, the changes that they undergo during retrogression could potentially be significant for the functioning of the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Asplund
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.
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Rose KE, Russell FL, Louda SM. Integral projection model of insect herbivore effects onCirsium altissimumpopulations along productivity gradients. Ecosphere 2011. [DOI: 10.1890/es11-00096.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Peltzer DA, Wardle DA, Allison VJ, Baisden WT, Bardgett RD, Chadwick OA, Condron LM, Parfitt RL, Porder S, Richardson SJ, Turner BL, Vitousek PM, Walker J, Walker LR. Understanding ecosystem retrogression. ECOL MONOGR 2010. [DOI: 10.1890/09-1552.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 308] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Jonsson M, Wardle DA. The influence of freshwater-lake subsidies on invertebrates occupying terrestrial vegetation. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2009.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Hyodo F, Wardle DA. Effect of ecosystem retrogression on stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes of plants, soils and consumer organisms in boreal forest islands. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2009; 23:1892-1898. [PMID: 19462406 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the prolonged absence of catastrophic disturbance, ecosystem retrogression occurs, and this involves increased nutrient limitation, and reduced aboveground and belowground ecosystem processes rates. Little is known about how the nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios (delta(15)N and delta(13)C) of plants, soils and consumer organisms respond to retrogression in boreal forests. We investigated a 5000 year chronosequence of forested islands in the boreal zone of northern Sweden, for which the time since lightning-induced wildfire increases with decreasing island size, leading to ecosystem retrogression. For this system, tissue delta(15)N of three abundant plant species (Betula pubescens, Vaccinium myrtillus and Pleurozium schreberi) and humus all increased as retrogression proceeded. This is probably due to enhanced ecosystem inputs of N by biological fixation, and greater dependency of the plants on organic N during retrogression. The delta(13)C of B. pubescens and plant-derived humus also increased during retrogression, probably through nutrient limitation increasing plant physiological stress. Unlike the plants, delta(15)N of invertebrates (lycosid spiders and ants) did not increase during retrogression, probably because of their partial dependence on aquatic-derived prey that had a variable delta(15)N signature. The delta(13)C of the invertebrates increased as retrogression proceeded and converged towards that of an aquatic prey source (chironomid flies), suggesting increased dependence on aquatic-derived prey during retrogression. These results show that measurement of delta(15)N and delta(13)C of plants, soils, and consumers across the same environmental gradient can provide insights into environmental factors that drive both the aboveground and belowground subsystems, as well as the linkages between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujio Hyodo
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S901 83 Umeå, Sweden.
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