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Wang X, Chen L, Zhang H, Liu P, Shang X, Wang F, Zhang Z, Zhao J, Sun M, Chen J, Zhang J. Insect herbivory on woody broadleaf seedlings along a subtropical elevational gradient supports the resource concentration hypothesis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16355. [PMID: 38831659 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Theories of plant-herbivore interactions hold that seedlings are more vulnerable to herbivory in warmer and more stable climates at lower elevations. Hypotheses of plant apparency, resource concentration, and resource availability have been proposed to explain variability in leaf herbivory. However, seasonal differences in the effects of these hypotheses on leaf herbivory on seedlings remain unclear. METHODS We evaluated the three herbivory hypotheses by comparing the percentage and frequency of leaf herbivory in understory broadleaf seedlings in a subtropical forest in May (spring) and October (autumn) along an elevational gradient (290-1370 m a.s.l.). In total, we measured 2890 leaves across 696 seedlings belonging to 95 species and used beta regressions to test the effects of plant apparency (e.g., leaf area, seedling height), resource concentration (e.g., plant species diversity), and resource availability (e.g., canopy openness, soil available N and P) on leaf herbivory. RESULTS Seedlings exhibited unimodal patterns of leaf herbivory along elevation, with drivers of leaf herbivory varying by the month. Variation in the frequency of leaf herbivory was best explained by the resource concentration hypothesis (e.g., plant species diversity) in both months, and herbivory was lower on seedlings in sites with higher plant diversity. Plant apparency hypothesis (e.g., leaf area, seedling height) was weakly supported only in spring, and the evidence for resource availability hypothesis (e.g., canopy openness, soil nutrients) was mixed. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the resource concentration hypothesis and reveals the importance of seasonal difference on understanding leaf herbivory patterns and the drivers of plant diversity in subtropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoran Wang
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Administration of Guanshan National Nature Reserve, Yichun, 336300, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Pengcheng Liu
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xiaofan Shang
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhaochen Zhang
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, 332900, China
| | - Jingchao Zhao
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Mufan Sun
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Junhong Chen
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
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2
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Gougherty AV, Davies TJ. Evolutionary history of host trees amplifies the dilution effect of biodiversity on forest pests. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002473. [PMID: 38412281 PMCID: PMC10898760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity appears to strongly suppress pathogens and pests in many plant and animal systems. However, this "dilution effect" is not consistently detected, and when present can vary strikingly in magnitude. Here, we use forest inventory data from over 25,000 plots (>1.1 million sampled trees) to quantify the strength of the dilution effect on dozens of forest pests and clarify why some pests are particularly sensitive to biodiversity. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, we show that pest prevalence is frequently lower in highly diverse forests, but there is considerable variability in the magnitude of this dilution effect among pests. The strength of dilution was not closely associated with host specialization or pest nativity. Instead, pest prevalence was lower in forests where co-occurring tree species were more distantly related to a pest's preferred hosts. Our analyses indicate that host evolutionary history and forest composition are key to understanding how species diversity may dilute the impacts of tree pests, with important implications for predicting how future biodiversity change may affect the spread and distribution of damaging forest pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew V. Gougherty
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Delaware, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - T. Jonathan Davies
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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3
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Liu X, LeRoy CJ, Wang G, Guo Y, Song S, Wang Z, Wu J, Luan F, Song Q, Fang X, Yang Q, Huang D, Liu J. Leaf defenses of subtropical deciduous and evergreen trees to varying intensities of herbivory. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16350. [PMID: 37953769 PMCID: PMC10637251 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Generally, deciduous and evergreen trees coexist in subtropical forests, and both types of leaves are attacked by numerous insect herbivores. However, trees respond and defend themselves from herbivores in different ways, and these responses may vary between evergreen and deciduous species. We examined both the percentage of leaf area removed by herbivores as well as the percentage of leaves attacked by herbivores to evaluate leaf herbivore damage across 14 subtropical deciduous and evergreen tree species, and quantified plant defenses to varying intensities of herbivory. We found that there was no significant difference in mean percentage of leaf area removed between deciduous and evergreen species, yet a higher mean percentage of deciduous leaves were damaged compared to evergreen leaves (73.7% versus 60.2%). Although percent leaf area removed was mainly influenced by hemicellulose concentrations, there was some evidence that the ratio of non-structural carbohydrates:lignin and the concentration of tannins contribute to herbivory. We also highlight that leaf defenses to varying intensities of herbivory varied greatly among subtropical plant species and there was a stronger response for deciduous trees to leaf herbivore (e.g., increased nitrogen or lignin) attack than that of evergreen trees. This work elucidates how leaves respond to varying intensities of herbivory, and explores some of the underlying relationships between leaf traits and herbivore attack in subtropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Liu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | | | - Guobing Wang
- Department of Scientific Research, Administration of Jiangxi Guanshan National Nature Reserve, Yichun, China
| | - Yuan Guo
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shuwang Song
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhipei Wang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jingfang Wu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | | | - Qingni Song
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiong Fang
- College of Land Resources and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qingpei Yang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Dongmei Huang
- School of Humanities and Public Administration, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
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4
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Cagnolo L, Bernaschini L, Salvo A, Valladares G. Habitat area and edges affect the length of trophic chains in a fragmented forest. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:2067-2077. [PMID: 37649437 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The food chain length represents how much energy reaches different trophic levels in food webs. Environmental changes derived from human activities have the potential to affect chain length. We explore how habitat area and edges affect chain length through: (1) a bottom-up effect of abundance ('pyramid hypothesis'); (2) the truncation of the highest trophic level ('trophic-rank hypothesis'); and (3) changes in species connectivity patterns ('connectivity hypothesis'). We built plant-leaf miner-parasitoid food webs in 19 remnants of a fragmented Chaco forest from central Argentina. On each remnant, we constructed food webs from different locations at the forest interior and edges. For each food web, we registered the abundance of species, the species richness of each trophic level, estimated the connectivity of their networks, and the average food chain length. We used structural equation models to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of habitat area and edge/interior location on food chain length mediated by species richness, abundance and connectivity. We found no direct effects of habitat area on chain length but chains were longer at forest edges than at their interior. The three mechanisms were supported by our results, although they showed different strengths. First, we found that the interior favours a bottom-up abundance effect from herbivores to parasitoids that positively affected chain length; second, we found that the forest area positively affects plant richness, which has a strong effect on the number of resources used by consumers, with a positive effect on chain length. Third, the remnant area and interior position favoured plant richness with a negative effect on the abundance of parasitoids, which had a positive effect on chain length. In general, the strongest effects on chain length were detected through changes in abundance rather than species richness although abundance was less affected by habitat fragmentation. We evaluated for the first time the effects of human-driven habitat fragmentation on the length of trophic chains in highly diverse plant-herbivore-parasitoid networks. Despite the loss of species, small habitat fragments and edges embedded in the agricultural matrix can support interaction networks, making them conservation targets in managed landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Cagnolo
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologı́a Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura Bernaschini
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologı́a Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adriana Salvo
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologı́a Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Graciela Valladares
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologı́a Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
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5
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Schroeder H, Grab H, Poveda K. Phenotypic clines in herbivore resistance and reproductive traits in wild plants along an agricultural gradient. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286050. [PMID: 37256895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The conversion of natural landscapes to agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. While many studies examine how landscape modification affects species diversity, a trait-based approach can provide new insights into species responses to environmental change. Wild plants persisting in heavily modified landscapes provide a unique opportunity to examine species' responses to land use change. Trait expression within a community plays an important role in structuring species interactions, highlighting the potential implications of landscape mediated trait changes on ecosystem functioning. Here we test the effect of increasing agricultural landscape modification on defensive and reproductive traits in three commonly occurring Brassicaceae species to evaluate plant responses to landscape change. We collected seeds from populations at spatially separated sites with variation in surrounding agricultural land cover and grew them in a greenhouse common garden, measuring defensive traits through an herbivore no-choice bioassay as well as reproductive traits such as flower size and seed set. In two of the three species, plants originating from agriculturally dominant landscapes expressed a consistent reduction in flower size and herbivore leaf consumption. One species also showed reduced fitness associated with increasingly agricultural landscapes. These findings demonstrate that wild plants are responding to landscape modification, suggesting that the conversion of natural landscapes to agriculture has consequences for wild plant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Schroeder
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Heather Grab
- School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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6
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Bröcher M, Ebeling A, Hertzog L, Roscher C, Weisser W, Meyer ST. Effects of plant diversity on species-specific herbivory: patterns and mechanisms. Oecologia 2023; 201:1053-1066. [PMID: 36964400 PMCID: PMC10113292 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05361-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrate herbivory can shape plant communities when impacting growth and fitness of some plant species more than other species. Previous studies showed that herbivory varies among plant species and that species-specific herbivory is affected by the diversity of the surrounding plant community. However, mechanisms underlying this variation are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how plant traits and plant apparency explain differences in herbivory among plant species and we explore the effect of plant community diversity on these species-specific relationships. We found that species differed in the herbivory they experienced. Forbs were three times more damaged by herbivores than grasses. Variability within grasses was caused by differences in leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Furthermore, higher plant diversity increased herbivory on 15 plant species and decreased herbivory on nine species. Variation within forb and grass species in their response to changing plant diversity was best explained by species' physical resistance (LDMC, forbs) and biomass (grasses). Overall, our results show that herbivory and diversity effects on herbivory differ among species, and that, depending on the plant functional group, either species-specific traits or apparency are driving those differences. Thus, herbivores might selectively consume palatable forbs or abundant grasses with contrasting consequences for plant community composition in grasslands dominated by either forbs or grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bröcher
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
| | - A Ebeling
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - L Hertzog
- Thünen Institute of Biodiversity, Brunswick, Germany
| | - C Roscher
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - W Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - S T Meyer
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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7
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Matevski D, Foltran E, Lamersdorf N, Schuldt A. Introduction of non-native Douglas fir reduces leaf damage on beech saplings and mature trees in European beech forests. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2786. [PMID: 36477972 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent ecological research suggests that, in general, mixtures are more resistant to insect herbivores and pathogens than monocultures. However, we know little about mixtures with non-native trees, where enemy release could lead to patterns that differ from commonly observed relationships among native species. This becomes particularly relevant when considering that adaptation strategies to climate change increasingly promote a larger share of non-native tree species, such as North American Douglas fir in Central Europe. We studied leaf damage on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) saplings and mature trees across a wide range of site conditions in monocultures and mixtures with phylogenetically distant conifers native Norway spruce (Picea abies) and non-native Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). We analyzed leaf herbivory and pathogen damage in relation to tree diversity and composition effects, as well as effects of environmental factors and plant characteristics. We observed lower sapling herbivory and tree sucking damage on beech in non-native Douglas fir mixtures than in beech monocultures, probably due to a lower herbivore diversity on Douglas fir trees, and higher pathogen damage on beech saplings in Norway spruce than Douglas fir mixtures, possibly because of higher canopy openness. Our findings suggest that for low diversity gradients, tree diversity effects on leaf damage can strongly depend on tree species composition, in addition to modifications caused by feeding guild and tree ontogeny. Moreover, we found that nutrient capacity modulated the effects of tree diversity, composition, and environmental factors, with different responses in sites with low or high nutrient capacity. The existence of contrasting diversity effects based on tree species composition provides important information on our understanding of the relationships between tree diversity and plant-herbivore interactions in light of non-native tree species introductions. Especially with recent Norway spruce die-off, the planting of Douglas fir as replacement is likely to strongly increase in Central Europe. Our findings suggest that mixtures with Douglas fir could benefit the survival or growth rates of beech saplings and mature trees due to lower leaf damage, emphasizing the need to clearly identify and compare the potential benefits and ecological trade-offs of non-native tree species in forest management under ongoing environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragan Matevski
- Forest Nature Conservation, Faculty of Forest Science and Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Estela Foltran
- Bordeaux-Sciences-Agro, INRAE, UMR ISPA, Villenave d'Ornon, France
- Büsgen-Institute, Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Norbert Lamersdorf
- Büsgen-Institute, Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- Forest Nature Conservation, Faculty of Forest Science and Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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8
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Huang Y, Schuldt A, Hönig L, Yang B, Liu X, Bruelheide H, Ma K, Schmid B, Niklaus PA. Effects of enemy exclusion on biodiversity-productivity relationships in a subtropical forest experiment. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2022; 110:2167-2178. [PMID: 36250130 PMCID: PMC9544039 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Interspecific niche complementarity is a key mechanism posited to explain positive species richness-productivity relationships in plant communities. However, the exact nature of the niche dimensions that plant species partition remains poorly known.Species may partition abiotic resources that limit their growth, but species may also be specialized with respect to their set of biotic interactions with other trophic levels, in particular with enemies including pathogens and consumers. The lower host densities present in more species-diverse plant communities may therefore result in smaller populations of specialized enemies, and in a smaller associated negative feedback these enemies exert on plant productivity.To test whether such host density-dependent effects of enemies drive diversity-productivity relationships in young forest stands, we experimentally manipulated leaf fungal pathogens and insect herbivores in a large subtropical forest biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiment in China (BEF-China).We found that fungicide spraying of tree canopies removed the positive tree-species richness-productivity relationship present in untreated control plots. The tree species that contributed the most to this effect were the ones with the highest fungicide-induced growth increase in monoculture. Insecticide application did not cause comparable effects. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that tree species diversity may not only promote productivity by interspecific resource-niche partitioning but also by trophic niche partitioning. Most likely, partitioning occurred with respect to enemies such as pathogenic fungi. Alternatively, similar effects on tree growth would have occurred if fungicide had eliminated positive effects of a higher diversity of beneficial fungi (e.g. mycorrhizal symbionts) that may have occurred in mixed tree species communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Huang
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- Forest Nature ConservationGeorg‐August‐University GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Lydia Hönig
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical GardenMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
| | - Bo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Biodiversity of Jiangxi ProvinceJingdezhen UniversityJingdezhenChina
| | - Xiaojuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of BotanyThe Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical GardenMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of BotanyThe Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing LaboratoriesUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Pascal A. Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
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9
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Galmán A, Vázquez‐González C, Röder G, Castagneyrol B. Interactive effects of tree species composition and water availability on growth and direct and indirect defences in
Quercus ilex. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Galmán
- Misión Biológica de Galicia, National Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Pontevedra Spain
- Inst. of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther Univ. Halle‐Wittenberg Germany
| | - Carla Vázquez‐González
- Misión Biológica de Galicia, National Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Pontevedra Spain
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of California Irvine CA USA
| | - Gregory Röder
- Inst. of Biology, Univ. of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
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10
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Ferlian O, Lintzel EM, Bruelheide H, Guerra CA, Heklau H, Jurburg S, Kühn P, Martinez-Medina A, Unsicker SB, Eisenhauer N, Schädler M. Nutrient status not secondary metabolites drives herbivory and pathogen infestation across differently mycorrhized tree monocultures and mixtures. Basic Appl Ecol 2021; 55:110-123. [PMID: 34493930 PMCID: PMC7611625 DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Research on tree diversity and antagonists often neglects plant complementarity. We studied species richness/mycorrhizal type effects on leaf herbivory/pathogens. Mycorrhizal type had different effects on herbivory and pathogen infestation. Elemental not metabolite concentrations determined leaf damage.ld.
Research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between tree diversity and antagonist infestation is often neglecting resource-use complementarity among plant species. We investigated the effects of tree species identity, species richness, and mycorrhizal type on leaf herbivory and pathogen infestation. We used a tree sapling experiment manipulating the two most common mycorrhizal types, arbuscular mycorrhiza and ectomycorrhiza, via respective tree species in monocultures and two-species mixtures. We visually assessed leaf herbivory and pathogen infestation rates, and measured concentrations of a suite of plant metabolites (amino acids, sugars, and phenolics), leaf elemental concentrations (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), and tree biomass. Tree species and mycorrhizal richness had no significant effect on herbivory and pathogen infestation, whereas species identity and mycorrhizal type had. Damage rates were higher in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) than in ectomycorrhizal (EM) trees. Our structural equation model (SEM) indicated that elemental, but not metabolite concentrations, determined herbivory and pathogen infestation, suggesting that the investigated chemical defence strategies may not have been involved in the effects found in our study with tree saplings. Other chemical and physical defence strategies as well as species identity as its determinant may have played a more crucial role in the studied saplings. Furthermore, the SEM indicated a direct positive effect of AM trees on herbivory rates, suggesting that other dominant mechanisms, not considered here, were involved as well. We found differences in the attribution of elemental concentrations between the two rates. This points to the fact that herbivory and pathogen infestation are driven by distinct mechanisms. Our study highlights the importance of biotic contexts for understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of biodiversity on tree-antagonist interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Esther-Marie Lintzel
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carlos A Guerra
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Heike Heklau
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stephanie Jurburg
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paul Kühn
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ainhoa Martinez-Medina
- Plant-Microorganism Interaction Unit, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), Calle Cordel de Merinas, 40, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sybille B Unsicker
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Schädler
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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11
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Shin B, Lee JY, Kim NH, Choi SW. The relationship between resource abundance and insect herbivory on islands. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256183. [PMID: 34398919 PMCID: PMC8366974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the relationship between resource abundance and the feeding activity of phytophagous insects on three common island plants. The aim was to investigate the correlation between phytophagous insects' abundance and availability of food and island geography. We collected 30,835 leaves from three tree species groups (Mallotus japonicus, Prunus species, and Quercus species) on 18 islands in southwest Korea. The number of plant resources for herbivores varied: the number of leaves per shoot was the highest in Mallotus, leaf weight and the water content per leaf was significantly lower in Quercus species. External feeding was higher for Prunus and Quercus species, whereas the internal feeding type was significantly higher for Quercus species. Geography (area and distance), elevation and food resource (elevation, number of plant species, and the forest cover rate) had a variable effect on phytophagous insects feeding activities: distance and the number of plant species were more explainable to the external feeding guild. In contrast, area and forest cover were more to the internal feeding guild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Shin
- Department of Biology, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam, Korea
- Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam, Korea
| | - Jae-Young Lee
- Department of Biology, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam, Korea
- Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam, Korea
| | - Nang-Hee Kim
- National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon, Chungnam, Korea
| | - Sei-Woong Choi
- Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam, Korea
- * E-mail:
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12
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Zumstein P, Bruelheide H, Fichtner A, Schuldt A, Staab M, Härdtle W, Zhou H, Assmann T. What shapes ground beetle assemblages in a tree species-rich subtropical forest? Zookeys 2021; 1044:907-927. [PMID: 34183896 PMCID: PMC8222196 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As woody plants provide much of the trophic basis for food webs in forests their species richness, but also stand age and numerous further variables such as vegetation structure, soil properties and elevation can shape assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, the combined impact of these numerous variables on ground beetle diversity and community structure has rarely been studied simultaneously. Therefore, ground beetles were studied in 27 plots in a highly diverse and structurally heterogeneous subtropical forest ecosystem, the Gutianshan National Park (southeast China) using pitfall traps and flight interception traps. Both trapping methods collected partly overlapping species spectra. The arboreal fauna was dominated by lebiines and to a smaller extent by tiger beetles and platynines; the epigeic fauna comprised mostly representatives of the genus Carabus and numerous tribes, especially anisodactylines, pterostichines, and sphodrines. Ground beetle species richness, abundance, and biomass of the pitfall trap catches were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), fitted with seven environmental variables. Four of these variables influenced the ground beetle assemblages: Canopy cover, herb cover, pH-value of the topsoil and elevation. Contrary to our expectations, woody plant species richness and stand age did not significantly affect ground beetle assemblages. Thus, ground beetles seem to respond differently to environmental variables than ants and spiders, two other predominantly predatory arthropod groups that were studied on the same plots in our study area and which showed distinct relationships with woody plant richness. Our results highlight the need to study a wider range of taxa to achieve a better understanding of how environmental changes affect species assemblages and their functioning in forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Zumstein
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, GermanyLeuphana UniversityLüneburgGermany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle (Saale), GermanyMartin Luther UniversityHalleGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity ResearchLeipzigGermany
| | - Andreas Fichtner
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, GermanyLeuphana UniversityLüneburgGermany
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- Forest Nature Conservation, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyGeorg-August-UniversityGöttingenGermany
| | - Michael Staab
- Ecological Networks, Technical University Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyTechnical University DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Werner Härdtle
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, GermanyLeuphana UniversityLüneburgGermany
| | - Hongzhang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Thorsten Assmann
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, GermanyLeuphana UniversityLüneburgGermany
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13
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Kneeshaw DD, Sturtevant BR, DeGrandpé L, Doblas-Miranda E, James PMA, Tardif D, Burton PJ. The Vision of Managing for Pest-Resistant Landscapes: Realistic or Utopic? CURRENT FORESTRY REPORTS 2021; 7:97-113. [PMID: 35620173 PMCID: PMC8050513 DOI: 10.1007/s40725-021-00140-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Forest managers have long suggested that forests can be made more resilient to insect pests by reducing the abundance of hosts, yet this has rarely been done. The goal of our paper is to review whether recent scientific evidence supports forest manipulation to decrease vulnerability. To achieve this goal, we first ask if outbreaks of forest insect pests have been more severe in recent decades. Next, we assess the relative importance of climate change and forest management-induced changes in forest composition/structure in driving these changes in severity. RECENT FINDINGS Forest structure and composition continue to be implicated in pest outbreak severity. Mechanisms, however, remain elusive. Recent research elucidates how forest compositional and structural diversity at neighbourhood, stand, and landscape scales can increase forest resistance to outbreaks. Many recent outbreaks of herbivorous forest insects have been unprecedented in terms of duration and spatial extent. Climate change may be a contributing factor, but forest structure and composition have been clearly identified as contributing to these unprecedented outbreaks. SUMMARY Current research supports using silviculture to create pest-resistant forest landscapes. However, the precise mechanisms by which silviculture can increase resistance remains uncertain. Further, humans tend to more often create pest-prone forests due to political, economic, and human resistance to change and a short-sighted risk management perspective that focuses on reactive rather than proactive responses to insect outbreak threats. Future research efforts need to focus on social, political, cultural, and educational mechanisms to motivate implementation of proven ecological solutions if pest-resistant forests are to be favoured by management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Kneeshaw
- Centre for Forest Research, University of Québec in Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Louis DeGrandpé
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Enrique Doblas-Miranda
- CREAF, E08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Dominique Tardif
- Centre for Forest Research, University of Québec in Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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14
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Thakur MP, Künne T, Unsicker SB, Biere A, Ferlian O, Pruschitzki U, Thouvenot L, Türke M, Eisenhauer N. Invasive earthworms reduce chemical defense and increase herbivory and pathogen infection in native trees. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2021; 109:763-775. [PMID: 33664527 PMCID: PMC7891629 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent research shows that earthworms can alter defense traits of plants against herbivores and pathogens by affecting soil biochemistry. Yet, the effects of invasive earthworms on defense traits of native plants from previously earthworm-free ecosystems as well as the consequences for multitrophic interactions are virtually unknown.Here we use a combination of an observational study and a complementary experimental study to investigate the effects of invasive earthworms on leaf defense traits, herbivore damage and pathogen infection in two poplar tree species (Populus balsamifera and Populus tremuloides) native to North American boreal forests.Our observational study showed that earthworm invasion was associated with enhanced leaf herbivory (by leaf-chewing insects) in saplings of both tree species. However, we only detected significant shifts in the concentration of chemical defense compounds in response to earthworm invasion for P. balsamifera. Specifically, leaf phenolic concentrations, including salicinoids and catechin, were lower in P. balsamifera from earthworm-invaded sites.Our experimental study confirmed an earthworm-induced reduction in leaf defense levels in P. balsamifera for one of the defense compounds, tremulacin. The experimental study additionally showed that invasive earthworms reduced leaf dry matter content, potentially increasing leaf palatability, and enhanced susceptibility of trees to infection by a fungal pathogen, but not to aphid infestation, in the same tree species. Synthesis. Our results show that invasive earthworms can decrease the concentrations of some chemical defense compounds in P. balsamifera, which could make them susceptible to leaf-chewing insects. Such potential impacts of invasive earthworms are likely to have implications for tree survival and competition, native tree biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhav P. Thakur
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Terrestrial Ecology GroupInstitute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Tom Künne
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Sybille B. Unsicker
- Department of BiochemistryMax Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyJenaGermany
| | - Arjen Biere
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Ulrich Pruschitzki
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Lise Thouvenot
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Manfred Türke
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
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15
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Jactel H, Moreira X, Castagneyrol B. Tree Diversity and Forest Resistance to Insect Pests: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Prospects. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 66:277-296. [PMID: 32903046 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-041720-075234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ecological research conducted over the past five decades has shown that increasing tree species richness at forest stands can improve tree resistance to insect pest damage. However, the commonality of this finding is still under debate. In this review, we provide a quantitative assessment (i.e., a meta-analysis) of tree diversity effects on insect herbivory and discuss plausible mechanisms underlying the observed patterns. We provide recommendations and working hypotheses that can serve to lay the groundwork for research to come. Based on more than 600 study cases, our quantitative review indicates that insect herbivory was, on average, lower in mixed forest stands than in pure stands, but these diversity effects were contingent on herbivore diet breadth and tree species composition. In particular, tree species diversity mainly reduced damage of specialist insect herbivores in mixed stands with phylogenetically distant tree species. Overall, our findings provide essential guidance for forest pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Jactel
- INRAE, University of Bordeaux, BIOGECO, F-33610 Cestas, France;
| | - Xoaquín Moreira
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), 36080 Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
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16
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Martini F, Aluthwattha ST, Mammides C, Armani M, Goodale UM. Plant apparency drives leaf herbivory in seedling communities across four subtropical forests. Oecologia 2020; 195:575-587. [PMID: 33251556 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04804-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Insect herbivory in natural forests is of critical importance in forest regeneration and dynamics. Some hypotheses that have been proposed to explain variation in leaf consumption by herbivores focus on biotic interactions, while others emphasize the role of the abiotic environment. Here, we evaluated the relative importance of both biotic and abiotic factors in explaining leaf damage on seedlings. We measured the percentage of leaf damage in the understory seedling community of four subtropical forests, covering an elevation gradient from 400 to 1850 m asl. We used fine-scale abiotic (elevation, canopy openness, topography, soil fertility) and biotic (seedling height and number of leaves, neighborhood composition) variables to determine both direct and indirect relationships using linear mixed models and structural equation modeling. We also explored the consistency of our results across the four forests. Taller seedlings experienced higher herbivore damage. Herbivory increased at higher elevations and in areas with higher light availability in one forest, but not in the other three. We found no evidence supporting the effects of biotic interactions on herbivory. Our results, at all levels of analysis, are consistent with the plant apparency theory, which posits that more apparent plants suffer greater attack. We did not find support for hypotheses stressing the role of neighborhood composition on herbivory. Similarly, the abiotic environment does not seem to influence herbivory significantly. We argue that plant apparency, rather than other biotic and abiotic factors, may be the most important predictor of leaf damage in the seedling communities of subtropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Martini
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - S Tharanga Aluthwattha
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Christos Mammides
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Mohammed Armani
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Uromi Manage Goodale
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Martini F, Goodale UM. Leaf damage by herbivore feeding guilds along gradients of elevation and plant species richness. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Martini
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐bioresources College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning China
| | - Uromi Manage Goodale
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐bioresources College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning China
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18
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Poeydebat C, Jactel H, Moreira X, Koricheva J, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Eisenhauer N, Ferlian O, Francisco M, Gottschall F, Gravel D, Mason B, Muiruri E, Muys B, Nock C, Paquette A, Ponette Q, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Stokes V, Staab M, Verheyen K, Castagneyrol B. Climate affects neighbour-induced changes in leaf chemical defences and tree diversity-herbivory relationships. Funct Ecol 2020; 35:67-81. [PMID: 33746332 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Associational resistance theory predicts that insect herbivory decreases with increasing tree diversity in forest ecosystems. However, the generality of this effect and its underlying mechanisms are still debated, particularly since evidence has accumulated that climate may influence the direction and strength of the relationship between diversity and herbivory.We quantified insect leaf herbivory and leaf chemical defences (phenolic compounds) of silver birch Betula pendula in pure and mixed plots with different tree species composition across 12 tree diversity experiments in different climates. We investigated whether the effects of neighbouring tree species diversity on insect herbivory in birch, that is, associational effects, were dependent on the climatic context, and whether neighbour-induced changes in birch chemical defences were involved in associational resistance to insect herbivory.We showed that herbivory on birch decreased with tree species richness (i.e. associational resistance) in colder environments but that this relationship faded as mean annual temperature increased.Birch leaf chemical defences increased with tree species richness but decreased with the phylogenetic distinctiveness of birch from its neighbours, particularly in warmer and more humid environments.Herbivory was negatively correlated with leaf chemical defences, particularly when birch was associated with closely related species. The interactive effect of tree diversity and climate on herbivory was partially mediated by changes in leaf chemical defences.Our findings confirm that tree species diversity can modify the leaf chemistry of a focal species, hence its quality for herbivores. They further stress that such neighbour-induced changes are dependent on climate and that tree diversity effects on insect herbivory are partially mediated by these neighbour-induced changes in chemical defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Poeydebat
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
| | - Hervé Jactel
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
| | | | - Julia Koricheva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | | | - Jürgen Bauhus
- Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Felix Gottschall
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dominique Gravel
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Bill Mason
- Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin Midlothian, UK
| | - Evalyne Muiruri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Bart Muys
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charles Nock
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Faculty of Biology, Department of Geobotany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alain Paquette
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Quentin Ponette
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering & Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | - Victoria Stokes
- Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin Midlothian, UK
| | - Michael Staab
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Bastien Castagneyrol
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
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19
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Devaney JL, Pullen J, Cook-Patton SC, Burghardt KT, Parker JD. Tree diversity promotes growth of late successional species despite increasing deer damage in a restored forest. Ecology 2020; 101:e03063. [PMID: 32239510 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The role of tree diversity in restored forests and its impact on key ecological processes like growth and resistance to herbivory has become increasingly important. We analyzed height growth and white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus browsing damage to saplings of 16 broadleaved tree species in a large-scale (13 ha) reforestation experiment in Maryland, USA, where we manipulated tree diversity in 70 1,225-m2 plots. After four growing seasons, higher plot-level tree richness led to increased deer browsing damage (i.e., associational susceptibility). Despite increased deer damage to saplings in mixed plots, tree richness had no overall effect on sapling height growth. However, diversity-height relationships were related to species functional traits. Light demanding species with large leaves and faster growth rates had reduced heights in mixtures, whereas shade-tolerant, slower-growing species generally had either increased or unchanged height growth in diverse tree communities, likely related to increased canopy closure in mixtures relative to monocultures. We show that tree diversity can improve growth of late successional species despite exacerbated mammalian herbivore damage. By facilitating the establishment of species with a range of life-history strategies, increased tree diversity may enhance ecosystem multi-functionality in the early stages of forest restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Devaney
- Botany Department, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, 2, Ireland.,Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
| | - Jamie Pullen
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
| | - Susan C Cook-Patton
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA.,The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, 22203, USA
| | - Karin T Burghardt
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA.,Department of Entomology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
| | - John D Parker
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
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20
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Hua L, He P, Goldstein G, Liu H, Yin D, Zhu S, Ye Q. Linking vein properties to leaf biomechanics across 58 woody species from a subtropical forest. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2020; 22:212-220. [PMID: 31627255 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Leaf venations have elements with relatively lower elasticity than other leaf tissue components, which are thought to contribute to leaf biomechanics. A better mechanistic understanding of relationships between vein traits and leaf mechanical properties is essential for ecologically relevant interpretation of leaf structural variations. We investigated 13 major (first to third order) and minor (>third order) vein traits, six leaf mechanical properties and other structural traits across 58 woody species from a subtropical forest to elucidate how vein traits contribute to leaf biomechanics. Across species, vein dry mass density (ρv ), total vein dry mass per leaf area (VMA) and minor vein diameter (VDmin ), but not the lower-order vein density (VLA1•2 ), were positively correlated with leaf force to punch (Fp ) and force to tear (Ft ). Structural equation models showed that ρv and VDmin not only contribute to leaf mechanical properties directly (direct pathway), but also had impacts on leaf biomechanics by influencing leaf thickness and leaf dry mass per area (indirect pathway). Our study demonstrated that vein dry mass density and minor vein diameter are the key vein properties for leaf biomechanics. We also suggest that the mechanical characteristics of venations are potential factors influencing leaf mechanical resistance, structure and leaf economics spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Hua
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - P He
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - G Goldstein
- Instituto de Ecologia Genetica y Evolucion, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, República Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - D Yin
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - S Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Q Ye
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, China
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21
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Effects of Forest Fragmentation on the Vertical Stratification of Neotropical Bats. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Vertical stratification is a key component of the biological complexity of rainforests. Understanding community- and species-level responses to disturbance across forest strata is paramount for evidence-based conservation and management. However, even for bats, known to extensively explore multiple layers of the complex three-dimensional forest space, studies are biased towards understory-based surveys and only few assessments of vertical stratification were done in fragmented landscapes. Using both ground and canopy mist-nets, we investigated how the vertical structure of bat assemblages is influenced by forest fragmentation in the experimentally fragmented landscape of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Central Amazon, Brazil. Over a three year-period, we captured 3077 individuals of 46 species in continuous forest (CF) and in 1, 10 and 100 ha forest fragments. In both CF and forest fragments, the upper forest strata sustained more diverse bat assemblages than the equivalent understory layer, and the midstory layers had significantly higher bat abundance in fragments than in CF. Artibeus lituratus and Rhinophylla pumilio exhibited significant shifts in their vertical stratification patterns between CF and fragments (e.g., R. pumilio was more associated with the upper strata in fragments than in CF). Altogether, our study suggests that fragmentation modulates the vertical stratification of bat assemblages.
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Li Q, Deng J, Chen C, Zeng L, Lin X, Cheng Z, Qiao G, Huang X. DNA Barcoding Subtropical Aphids and Implications for Population Differentiation. INSECTS 2019; 11:E11. [PMID: 31877643 PMCID: PMC7022676 DOI: 10.3390/insects11010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA barcoding has proven its worth in species identification, discovering cryptic diversity, and inferring genetic divergence. However, reliable DNA barcode reference libraries that these applications depend on are not available for many taxonomic groups and geographical regions. Aphids are a group of plant sap sucking insects, including many notorious pests in agriculture and forestry. The aphid fauna of the subtropical region has been understudied. In this study, based on extensive sampling effort across main subtropical areas, we sequenced 1581 aphid specimens of 143 morphospecies, representing 75 genera, and 13 subfamilies, to build the first comprehensive DNA barcode library for subtropical aphids. We examined the utility of DNA barcodes in identifying aphid species and population differentiation and evaluated the ability of different species delimitation methods (automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), generalized mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC), and Bayesian Poisson tree processes (bPTP)). We found that most aphid species demonstrated barcode gaps and that a threshold value of 2% genetic distance is suitable for distinguishing most species. Our results indicated that ten morphospecies may have species divergence related to factors such as host plant or geography. By using two pest species Aphis spiraecola and A. gossypii as examples, we also discussed the effect of the sampling scale of host plants on the results and reliability of DNA barcoding of phytophagous insects. This DNA barcode library will be valuable for future studies and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Jun Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Cui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Linda Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Xiaolan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zhentao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Gexia Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Xiaolei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Q.L.); (J.D.); (C.C.); (L.Z.); (X.L.); (Z.C.)
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23
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Njovu HK, Peters MK, Schellenberger Costa D, Brandl R, Kleyer M, Steffan-Dewenter I. Leaf traits mediate changes in invertebrate herbivory along broad environmental gradients on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1777-1788. [PMID: 31294458 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Temperature, primary productivity, plant functional traits, and herbivore abundances are considered key predictors of leaf herbivory but their direct and indirect contributions to community-level herbivory are not well understood along broad climatic gradients. Here, we determined elevational herbivory patterns and used a path analytical approach to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of climate, land use, net primary productivity (NPP), herbivore abundance, and plant functional traits on community-level invertebrate herbivory along the extensive elevational and land use gradients at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. We recorded standing leaf herbivory caused by leaf chewers, leaf miners and leaf gallers on 55 study sites distributed in natural and anthropogenic habitats along a 3,060 m elevation gradient. We related the total community-level herbivory to climate (temperature and precipitation), NPP, plant functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf carbon-to-nitrogen [CN] ratio and leaf nitrogen-to-phosphorus [NP] ratio) and herbivore abundances. Leaf herbivory ranged from 5% to 11% along the elevation gradient. Total leaf herbivory showed unimodal pattern in natural habitats but a strongly contrasting bimodal pattern in anthropogenic habitats. We also detected some variation in the patterns of leaf herbivory along environmental gradients across feeding guilds with leaf chewers being responsible for a disproportionally large part of herbivory. Path analyses indicated that the variation in leaf herbivory was mainly driven by changes in leaf CN and NP ratios which were closely linked to changes in NPP in natural habitats. Similarly, patterns of leaf herbivory in anthropogenic habitats were best explained by variation in leaf CN ratios and a negative effect of land use. Our study elucidates the strong role of leaf nutrient stoichiometry and its linkages to climate and NPP for explaining the variation in leaf herbivory along broad climatic gradients. Furthermore, the study suggests that climatic changes and nutrient inputs in the course of land use change may alter leaf herbivory and consequently energy and nutrient fluxes in terrestrial habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry K Njovu
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Marcell K Peters
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Roland Brandl
- Department of Animal Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kleyer
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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24
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Guyot V, Jactel H, Imbaud B, Burnel L, Castagneyrol B, Heinz W, Deconchat M, Vialatte A. Tree diversity drives associational resistance to herbivory at both forest edge and interior. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:9040-9051. [PMID: 31463002 PMCID: PMC6706233 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree diversity is increasingly acknowledged as an important driver of insect herbivory. However, there is still a debate about the direction of associational effects that can range from associational resistance (i.e., less damage in mixed stands than in monocultures) to the opposite, associational susceptibility. Discrepancies among published studies may be due to the overlooked effect of spatially dependent processes such as tree location within forests. We addressed this issue by measuring crown defoliation and leaf damage made by different guilds of insect herbivores on oaks growing among conspecific versus heterospecific neighbors at forest edges versus interior, in two closed sites in SW France forests. Overall, oaks were significantly less defoliated among heterospecific neighbors (i.e., associational resistance), at both forest edge and interior. At the leaf level, guild diversity and leaf miner herbivory significantly increased with tree diversity regardless of oak location within stands. Other guilds showed no clear response to tree diversity or oak location. We showed that herbivore response to tree diversity varied among insect feeding guilds but not between forest edges and interior, with inconsistent patterns between sites. Importantly, we show that oaks were more defoliated in pure oak plots than in mixed plots at both edge and forest interior and that, on average, defoliation decreased with increasing tree diversity from one to seven species. We conclude that edge conditions could be interacting with tree diversity to regulate insect defoliation, but future investigations are needed to integrate them into the management of temperate forests, notably by better understanding the role of the landscape context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Guyot
- DYNAFOR, INRA, Université de ToulouseCastanet TolosanFrance
- BIOGECO, INRA, Univ. BordeauxCestasFrance
- LTSER Zone Atelier «PYRÉNÉES GARONNE»Auzeville‐TolosaneFrance
| | | | | | - Laurent Burnel
- DYNAFOR, INRA, Université de ToulouseCastanet TolosanFrance
- LTSER Zone Atelier «PYRÉNÉES GARONNE»Auzeville‐TolosaneFrance
| | | | - Wilfried Heinz
- DYNAFOR, INRA, Université de ToulouseCastanet TolosanFrance
- LTSER Zone Atelier «PYRÉNÉES GARONNE»Auzeville‐TolosaneFrance
| | - Marc Deconchat
- DYNAFOR, INRA, Université de ToulouseCastanet TolosanFrance
- LTSER Zone Atelier «PYRÉNÉES GARONNE»Auzeville‐TolosaneFrance
| | - Aude Vialatte
- DYNAFOR, INRA, Université de ToulouseCastanet TolosanFrance
- LTSER Zone Atelier «PYRÉNÉES GARONNE»Auzeville‐TolosaneFrance
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25
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He P, Wright IJ, Zhu S, Onoda Y, Liu H, Li R, Liu X, Hua L, Oyanoghafo OO, Ye Q. Leaf mechanical strength and photosynthetic capacity vary independently across 57 subtropical forest species with contrasting light requirements. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:607-618. [PMID: 30887533 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Leaf mechanical strength and photosynthetic capacity are critical plant life-history traits associated with tolerance and growth under various biotic and abiotic stresses. In principle, higher mechanical resistance achieved via higher relative allocation to cell walls should slow photosynthetic rates. However, interspecific relationships among these two leaf functions have not been reported. We measured leaf traits of 57 dominant woody species in a subtropical evergreen forest in China, focusing especially on photosynthetic rates, mechanical properties, and leaf lifespan (LLS). These species were assigned to two ecological strategy groups: shade-tolerant species and light-demanding species. On average, shade-tolerant species had longer LLS, higher leaf mechanical strength but lower photosynthetic rates, and exhibited longer LLS for a given leaf mass per area (LMA) or mechanical strength than light-demanding species. Depending on the traits and the basis of expression (per area or per mass), leaf mechanical resistance and photosynthetic capacity were either deemed unrelated, or only weakly negatively correlated. We found only weak support for the proposed trade-off between leaf biomechanics and photosynthesis among co-occurring woody species. This suggests there is considerable flexibility in these properties, and the observed relationships may result more so from trait coordination than any physically or physiologically enforced trade-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng He
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Ian J Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Shidan Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yusuke Onoda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Ronghua Li
- Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Ecology, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lei Hua
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Osazee O Oyanoghafo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Qing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China
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26
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Liu Y, Luo Z. Neighbouring crop diversity mediates the effect of Bt cotton on insect community and leaf damage in fields. Transgenic Res 2019; 28:357-367. [DOI: 10.1007/s11248-019-00155-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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27
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Van Houtven G, Phelan J, Clark C, Sabo RD, Buckley J, Thomas RQ, Horn K, LeDuc SD. Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort. ECOL MONOGR 2019; 89:e01345. [PMID: 31217625 PMCID: PMC6559268 DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The composition of forests in the northeastern United States and the ecosystem services they provide to future generations will depend on several factors. In this paper, we isolate the effects of two environmental drivers, nitrogen (N) deposition and climate (temperature and precipitation) change, through an analysis of a single cohort of 24 dominant tree species. We assembled a tree database using data from U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis monitoring plots. Applying observed species-specific growth and survival responses, we simulated how forest stands in a 19-state study area would change from 2005 to 2100 under 12 different future N deposition-climate scenarios. We then estimated implications for three selected forest ecosystem services: merchantable timber, aboveground carbon sequestration, and tree diversity. Total tree biomass (for 24 species combined) was positively associated with both increased N deposition and temperatures; however, due to differences in the direction and magnitude of species-specific responses, forest composition varied across scenarios. For example, red maple (Acer rubrum) trees gained biomass under scenarios with more N deposition and more climate change, whereas biomass of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) was negatively affected. Projections for ecosystem services also varied across scenarios. Carbon sequestration, which is positively associated with biomass accumulation, increased with N deposition and increasing climate change. Total timber values also increased with overall biomass; however, scenarios with increasing climate change tended to favor species with lower merchantable value, whereas more N deposition favored species with higher merchantable value. Tree species diversity was projected to decrease with greater changes in climate (warmer temperatures), especially in the northwestern, central, and southeastern portions of the study area. In contrast, the effects of N deposition on diversity varied greatly in magnitude and direction across the study area. This study highlights species-specific and regional effects of N deposition and climate change in northeastern U.S. forests, which can inform management decision for air quality and forests in the region, as well as climate policy. It also provides a foundation for future studies that may incorporate other important factors such as multiple cohorts, sulfur deposition, insects, and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Van Houtven
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - Jennifer Phelan
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - Christopher Clark
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
| | - Robert D. Sabo
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
| | - John Buckley
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - R. Quinn Thomas
- Department of Forest Resources & Environmental ConservationVirginia Tech University310 West Campus DriveBlacksburgVirginia24061USA
| | - Kevin Horn
- Department of Forest Resources & Environmental ConservationVirginia Tech University310 West Campus DriveBlacksburgVirginia24061USA
| | - Stephen D. LeDuc
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
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28
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Gao J, Fang C, Zhao B. The latitudinal herbivory hypothesis revisited: To be part is to be whole. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3681-3688. [PMID: 31015958 PMCID: PMC6467846 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As the big data accumulation in ecology picks up pace, we now have the opportunity to test several macroecological hypotheses, such as the latitudinal herbivory hypothesis (LHH) dated from the 1990s. The LHH proposes that plant-herbivore interactions decrease as latitude increases, that is, from lower latitudinal areas (i.e., the equator) to higher latitudinal areas (i.e., the poles). This hypothesis has been challenged in recent years. In this study, we used the greatest volume dataset of leaf herbivory from the study of Zhang et al. (Journal of Ecology, 104, 2016, 1089) to test the LHH at a global scale, based on a quantile regression model. We found that the mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, and potential net primary production were heterogeneously correlated with herbivory at different quantiles or variable intervals. Although the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and the global-scale trends are in accordance with the expected latitudinal variation, the Southern Hemisphere (SH) was found to exhibit inverse trends. The latitude has a negative effect on plant-herbivore interactions in the NH and on a global scale; leaf herbivory decreased more at a given latitude in higher latitudinal areas, which is attributed to harsher survival conditions in these areas. The uniformity of leaf herbivory variability along the climate and latitude gradient in the NH and on a global scale motivates that the loosening of this herbivory variability in the SH is not significant enough to dismiss the prevalence of the LHH, a testable macroecology hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Gao
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River EstuaryMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringInstitute of Biodiversity ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Changming Fang
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River EstuaryMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringInstitute of Biodiversity ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Bin Zhao
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River EstuaryMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological EngineeringInstitute of Biodiversity ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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29
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Cardil A, Otsu K, Pla M, Silva CA, Brotons L. Quantifying pine processionary moth defoliation in a pine-oak mixed forest using unmanned aerial systems and multispectral imagery. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213027. [PMID: 30889176 PMCID: PMC6424397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pine processionary moth (PPM) feeds on conifer foliage and periodically result in outbreaks leading to large scale defoliation, causing decreased tree growth, vitality and tree reproduction capacity. Multispectral high-resolution imagery acquired from a UAS platform was successfully used to assess pest tree damage at the tree level in a pine-oak mixed forest. We generated point clouds and multispectral orthomosaics from UAS through photogrammetric processes. These were used to automatically delineate individual tree crowns and calculate vegetation indices such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and excess green index (ExG) to objectively quantify defoliation of trees previously identified. Overall, our research suggests that UAS imagery and its derived products enable robust estimation of tree crowns with acceptable accuracy and the assessment of tree defoliation by classifying trees along a gradient from completely defoliated to non-defoliated automatically with 81.8% overall accuracy. The promising results presented in this work should inspire further research and applications involving a combination of methods allowing the scaling up of the results on multispectral imagery by integrating satellite remote sensing information in the assessments over large spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cardil
- School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Tecnosylva SL, Parque tecnológico León, León, Spain
- * E-mail: (AC); (LB)
| | | | - Magda Pla
- InForest Joint Research Unit, (CTFC-CREAF) Solsona, Spain
| | - Carlos Alberto Silva
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Biospheric Sciences Lab, Greenbelt, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lluis Brotons
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- InForest Joint Research Unit, (CTFC-CREAF) Solsona, Spain
- CSIC, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- * E-mail: (AC); (LB)
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30
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van der Plas F. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in naturally assembled communities. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1220-1245. [PMID: 30724447 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 25 years ago, ecologists became increasingly interested in the question of whether ongoing biodiversity loss matters for the functioning of ecosystems. As such, a new ecological subfield on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) was born. This subfield was initially dominated by theoretical studies and by experiments in which biodiversity was manipulated, and responses of ecosystem functions such as biomass production, decomposition rates, carbon sequestration, trophic interactions and pollination were assessed. More recently, an increasing number of studies have investigated BEF relationships in non-manipulated ecosystems, but reviews synthesizing our knowledge on the importance of real-world biodiversity are still largely missing. I performed a systematic review in order to assess how biodiversity drives ecosystem functioning in both terrestrial and aquatic, naturally assembled communities, and on how important biodiversity is compared to other factors, including other aspects of community composition and abiotic conditions. The outcomes of 258 published studies, which reported 726 BEF relationships, revealed that in many cases, biodiversity promotes average biomass production and its temporal stability, and pollination success. For decomposition rates and ecosystem multifunctionality, positive effects of biodiversity outnumbered negative effects, but neutral relationships were even more common. Similarly, negative effects of prey biodiversity on pathogen and herbivore damage outnumbered positive effects, but were less common than neutral relationships. Finally, there was no evidence that biodiversity is related to soil carbon storage. Most BEF studies focused on the effects of taxonomic diversity, however, metrics of functional diversity were generally stronger predictors of ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, in most studies, abiotic factors and functional composition (e.g. the presence of a certain functional group) were stronger drivers of ecosystem functioning than biodiversity per se. While experiments suggest that positive biodiversity effects become stronger at larger spatial scales, in naturally assembled communities this idea is too poorly studied to draw general conclusions. In summary, a high biodiversity in naturally assembled communities positively drives various ecosystem functions. At the same time, the strength and direction of these effects vary highly among studies, and factors other than biodiversity can be even more important in driving ecosystem functioning. Thus, to promote those ecosystem functions that underpin human well-being, conservation should not only promote biodiversity per se, but also the abiotic conditions favouring species with suitable trait combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fons van der Plas
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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31
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Biodiversity across trophic levels drives multifunctionality in highly diverse forests. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2989. [PMID: 30065285 PMCID: PMC6068104 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05421-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced biodiversity change impairs ecosystem functions crucial to human well-being. However, the consequences of this change for ecosystem multifunctionality are poorly understood beyond effects of plant species loss, particularly in regions with high biodiversity across trophic levels. Here we adopt a multitrophic perspective to analyze how biodiversity affects multifunctionality in biodiverse subtropical forests. We consider 22 independent measurements of nine ecosystem functions central to energy and nutrient flow across trophic levels. We find that individual functions and multifunctionality are more strongly affected by the diversity of heterotrophs promoting decomposition and nutrient cycling, and by plant functional-trait diversity and composition, than by tree species richness. Moreover, cascading effects of higher trophic-level diversity on functions originating from lower trophic-level processes highlight that multitrophic biodiversity is key to understanding drivers of multifunctionality. A broader perspective on biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships is crucial for sustainable ecosystem management in light of non-random species loss and intensified biotic disturbances under future environmental change. Biodiversity change can impact ecosystem functioning, though this is primarily studied at lower trophic levels. Here, Schuldt et al. find that biodiversity components other than tree species richness are particularly important, and higher trophic level diversity plays a role in multifunctionality.
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Wu C, Vellend M, Yuan W, Jiang B, Liu J, Shen A, Liu J, Zhu J, Yu M. Patterns and determinants of plant biodiversity in non-commercial forests of eastern China. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188409. [PMID: 29161324 PMCID: PMC5697849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-commercial forests represent important habitats for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem function in China, yet no studies have explored the patterns and determinants of plant biodiversity in these human dominated landscapes. Here we test the influence of (1) forest type (pine, mixed, and broad-leaved), (2) disturbance history, and (3) environmental factors, on tree species richness and composition in 600 study plots in eastern China. In total, we found 143 species in 53 families of woody plants, with a number of species rare and endemic in the study region. Species richness in mixed forest and broad-leaved forest was higher than that in pine forest, and was higher in forests with less disturbance. Species composition was influenced by environment factors in different ways in different forest types, with important variables including elevation, soil depth and aspect. Surprisingly, we found little effect of forest age after disturbance on species composition. Most non-commercial forests in this region are dominated by species poor pine forests and mixed young forests. As such, our results highlight the importance of broad-leaved forests for regional plant biodiversity conservation. To increase the representation of broad-leaved non-commercial forests, specific management practices such as thinning of pine trees could be undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuping Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mark Vellend
- Departement de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Weigao Yuan
- Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Aihua Shen
- Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinru Zhu
- Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingjian Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
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O'Brien MJ, Brezzi M, Schuldt A, Zhang J, Ma K, Schmid B, Niklaus PA. Tree diversity drives diversity of arthropod herbivores, but successional stage mediates detritivores. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8753-8760. [PMID: 29152174 PMCID: PMC5677472 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The high tree diversity of subtropical forests is linked to the biodiversity of other trophic levels. Disentangling the effects of tree species richness and composition, forest age, and stand structure on higher trophic levels in a forest landscape is important for understanding the factors that promote biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Using a plot network spanning gradients of tree diversity and secondary succession in subtropical forest, we tested the effects of tree community characteristics (species richness and composition) and forest succession (stand age) on arthropod community characteristics (morphotype diversity, abundance and composition) of four arthropod functional groups. We posit that these gradients differentially affect the arthropod functional groups, which mediates the diversity, composition, and abundance of arthropods in subtropical forests. We found that herbivore richness was positively related to tree species richness. Furthermore, the composition of herbivore communities was associated with tree species composition. In contrast, detritivore richness and composition was associated with stand age instead of tree diversity. Predator and pollinator richness and abundance were not strongly related to either gradient, although positive trends with tree species richness were found for predators. The weaker effect of tree diversity on predators suggests a cascading diversity effect from trees to herbivores to predators. Our results suggest that arthropod diversity in a subtropical forest reflects the net outcome of complex interactions among variables associated with tree diversity and stand age. Despite this complexity, there are clear linkages between the overall richness and composition of tree and arthropod communities, in particular herbivores, demonstrating that these trophic levels directly impact each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. O'Brien
- Estación Experimental de Zonas ÁridasConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmeríaSpain
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Matteo Brezzi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Institute of Global HealthUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Jia‐Yong Zhang
- Institute of EcologyZhejiang Normal UniversityJinhuaZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental ChangeInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Pascal A. Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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Schuldt A, Hönig L, Li Y, Fichtner A, Härdtle W, von Oheimb G, Welk E, Bruelheide H. Herbivore and pathogen effects on tree growth are additive, but mediated by tree diversity and plant traits. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7462-7474. [PMID: 28944031 PMCID: PMC5606881 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Herbivores and fungal pathogens are key drivers of plant community composition and functioning. The effects of herbivores and pathogens are mediated by the diversity and functional characteristics of their host plants. However, the combined effects of herbivory and pathogen damage, and their consequences for plant performance, have not yet been addressed in the context of biodiversity–ecosystem functioning research. We analyzed the relationships between herbivory, fungal pathogen damage and their effects on tree growth in a large‐scale forest‐biodiversity experiment. Moreover, we tested whether variation in leaf trait and climatic niche characteristics among tree species influenced these relationships. We found significant positive effects of herbivory on pathogen damage, and vice versa. These effects were attenuated by tree species richness—because herbivory increased and pathogen damage decreased with increasing richness—and were most pronounced for species with soft leaves and narrow climatic niches. However, herbivory and pathogens had contrasting, independent effects on tree growth, with pathogens decreasing and herbivory increasing growth. The positive herbivory effects indicate that trees might be able to (over‐)compensate for local damage at the level of the whole tree. Nevertheless, we found a dependence of these effects on richness, leaf traits and climatic niche characteristics of the tree species. This could mean that the ability for compensation is influenced by both biodiversity loss and tree species identity—including effects of larger‐scale climatic adaptations that have been rarely considered in this context. Our results suggest that herbivory and pathogens have additive but contrasting effects on tree growth. Considering effects of both herbivory and pathogens may thus help to better understand the net effects of damage on tree performance in communities differing in diversity. Moreover, our study shows how species richness and species characteristics (leaf traits and climatic niches) can modify tree growth responses to leaf damage under real‐world conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schuldt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Lydia Hönig
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Ying Li
- Institute of Ecology Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg Germany
| | - Andreas Fichtner
- Institute of Ecology Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg Germany
| | - Werner Härdtle
- Institute of Ecology Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg Germany
| | - Goddert von Oheimb
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany.,Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection Technische Universität Dresden Tharandt Germany
| | - Erik Welk
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany
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35
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Ohse B, Seele C, Holzwarth F, Wirth C. Different facets of tree sapling diversity influence browsing intensity by deer dependent on spatial scale. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:6779-6789. [PMID: 28904759 PMCID: PMC5587474 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Browsing of tree saplings by deer hampers forest regeneration in mixed forests across Europe and North America. It is well known that tree species are differentially affected by deer browsing, but little is known about how different facets of diversity, such as species richness, identity, and composition, affect browsing intensity at different spatial scales. Using forest inventory data from the Hainich National Park, a mixed deciduous forest in central Germany, we applied a hierarchical approach to model the browsing probability of patches (regional scale) as well as the species‐specific proportion of saplings browsed within patches (patch scale). We found that, at the regional scale, the probability that a patch was browsed increased with certain species composition, namely with low abundance of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and high abundance of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), whereas at the patch scale, the proportion of saplings browsed per species was mainly determined by the species’ identity, providing a “preference ranking” of the 11 tree species under study. Interestingly, at the regional scale, species‐rich patches were more likely to be browsed; however, at the patch scale, species‐rich patches showed a lower proportion of saplings per species browsed. Presumably, diverse patches attract deer, but satisfy nutritional needs faster, such that fewer saplings need to be browsed. Some forest stand parameters, such as more open canopies, increased the browsing intensity at either scale. By showing the effects that various facets of diversity, as well as environmental parameters, exerted on browsing intensity at the regional as well as patch scale, our study advances the understanding of mammalian herbivore–plant interactions across scales. Our results also indicate which regeneration patches and species are (least) prone to browsing and show the importance of different facets of diversity for the prediction and management of browsing intensity and regeneration dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Ohse
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity Leipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Carolin Seele
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity Leipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Frédéric Holzwarth
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity Leipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Christian Wirth
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity Leipzig University Leipzig Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Germany
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36
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Meyer ST, Scheithe L, Hertzog L, Ebeling A, Wagg C, Roscher C, Weisser WW. Consistent increase in herbivory along two experimental plant diversity gradients over multiple years. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian T. Meyer
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technical University of Munich; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 85354 Freising Germany
| | - Lukas Scheithe
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technical University of Munich; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 85354 Freising Germany
| | - Lionel Hertzog
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technical University of Munich; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 85354 Freising Germany
| | - Anne Ebeling
- Institute of Ecology; University of Jena; Dornburger Street 159 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Cameron Wagg
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstr. 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Christiane Roscher
- Physiological Diversity; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ; Permoserstraße 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technical University of Munich; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 85354 Freising Germany
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37
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Guyot V, Castagneyrol B, Vialatte A, Deconchat M, Jactel H. Tree diversity reduces pest damage in mature forests across Europe. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2015.1037. [PMID: 27122011 PMCID: PMC4881340 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.1037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest pest damage is expected to increase with global change. Tree diversity could mitigate this impact, but unambiguous demonstration of the diversity–resistance relationship is lacking in semi-natural mature forests. We used a network of 208 forest plots sampled along two orthogonal gradients of increasing tree species richness and latitudes to assess total tree defoliation in Europe. We found a positive relationship between tree species richness and resistance to insect herbivores: overall damage to broadleaved species significantly decreased with the number of tree species in mature forests. This pattern of associational resistance was frequently observed across tree species and countries, irrespective of their climate. These findings confirm the greater potential of mixed forests to face future biotic disturbances in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Guyot
- INRA, DYNAFOR, UMR 1201, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France INRA, BIOGECO, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France
| | | | - Aude Vialatte
- INRA, DYNAFOR, UMR 1201, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France INPT-ENSAT, DYNAFOR, Université de Toulouse, UMR 1201, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | | | - Hervé Jactel
- INRA, BIOGECO, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France
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38
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Wein A, Bauhus J, Bilodeau-Gauthier S, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Nock C, Staab M. Tree Species Richness Promotes Invertebrate Herbivory on Congeneric Native and Exotic Tree Saplings in a Young Diversity Experiment. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168751. [PMID: 27992554 PMCID: PMC5161486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree diversity in forests is an important driver of ecological processes including herbivory. Empirical evidence suggests both negative and positive effects of tree diversity on herbivory, which can be, respectively, attributed to associational resistance or associational susceptibility. Tree diversity experiments allow testing for associational effects, but evidence regarding which pattern predominates is mixed. Furthermore, it is unknown if herbivory on tree species of native vs. exotic origin is influenced by changing tree diversity in a similar way, or if exotic tree species escape natural enemies, resulting in lower damage that is unrelated to tree diversity. To address these questions, we established a young tree diversity experiment in temperate southwestern Germany that uses high planting density (49 trees per plot; plot size 13 m2). The species pool consists of six congeneric species pairs of European and North American origin (12 species in total) planted in monocultures and mixtures (1, 2, 4, 6 species). We assessed leaf damage by leaf-chewing insects on more than 5,000 saplings of six broadleaved tree species. Plot-level tree species richness increased leaf damage, which more than doubled from monocultures to six-species mixtures, strongly supporting associational susceptibility. However, leaf damage among congeneric native and exotic species pairs was similar. There were marked differences in patterns of leaf damage across tree genera, and only the genera likely having a predominately generalist herbivore community showed associational susceptibility, irrespective of the geographical origin of a tree species. In conclusion, an increase in tree species richness in young temperate forests may result in associational susceptibility to feeding by generalist herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Wein
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bauhus
- Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Bilodeau-Gauthier
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, Centre-ville Station, QC H3C 3P8 Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Charles Nock
- Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Geobotany, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Staab
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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39
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Zhang J, Bruelheide H, Chen X, Eichenberg D, Kröber W, Xu X, Xu L, Schuldt A. Tree diversity promotes generalist herbivore community patterns in a young subtropical forest experiment. Oecologia 2016; 183:455-467. [PMID: 27844148 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3769-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Stand diversification is considered a promising management approach to increasing the multifunctionality and ecological stability of forests. However, how tree diversity affects higher trophic levels and their role in regulating forest functioning is not well explored particularly for (sub)tropical regions. We analyzed the effects of tree species richness, community composition, and functional diversity on the abundance, species richness, and beta diversity of important functional groups of herbivores and predators in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in south-east China. Tree species richness promoted the abundance, but not the species richness, of the dominant, generalist herbivores (especially, adult leaf chewers), probably through diet mixing effects. In contrast, tree richness did not affect the abundance of more specialized herbivores (larval leaf chewers, sap suckers) or predators (web and hunting spiders), and only increased the species richness of larval chewers. Leaf chemical diversity was unrelated to the arthropod data, and leaf morphological diversity only positively affected oligophagous herbivore and hunting spider abundance. However, richness and abundance of all arthropods showed relationships with community-weighted leaf trait means (CWM). The effects of trait diversity and CWMs probably reflect specific nutritional or habitat requirements. This is supported by the strong effects of tree species composition and CWMs on herbivore and spider beta diversity. Although specialized herbivores are generally assumed to determine herbivore effects in species-rich forests, our study suggests that generalist herbivores can be crucial for trophic interactions. Our results indicate that promoting pest control through stand diversification might require a stronger focus on identifying the best-performing tree species mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayong Zhang
- Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Normal University, Yinbing Road 688, 321004, Jinhua, China
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Xufei Chen
- Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Normal University, Yinbing Road 688, 321004, Jinhua, China
| | - David Eichenberg
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany
| | - Wenzel Kröber
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany
| | - Xuwen Xu
- Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Normal University, Yinbing Road 688, 321004, Jinhua, China
| | - Liting Xu
- Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Normal University, Yinbing Road 688, 321004, Jinhua, China
| | - Andreas Schuldt
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany. .,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. .,Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr. 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
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40
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Kambach S, Kühn I, Castagneyrol B, Bruelheide H. The Impact of Tree Diversity on Different Aspects of Insect Herbivory along a Global Temperature Gradient - A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165815. [PMID: 27835651 PMCID: PMC5105991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Forests with higher tree diversity are often assumed to be more resistant to insect herbivores but whether this effect depends on climatic conditions is so far poorly understood. In particular, a forest’s resistance to herbivory may depend on mean annual temperature (MAT) as a key driver of plant and insect phenology. We carried out a global meta-analysis on regression coefficients between tree diversity and four aspects of insect herbivory, namely herbivore damage, abundance, incidence rate and species richness. To test for a potential shift of tree diversity effects along a global gradient of MAT we applied mixed-effects models and estimated grand mean effect sizes and the influence of MAT, experimental vs. observational studies and herbivores diet breadth. There was no overall effect of tree diversity on the pooled effect sizes of insect herbivore damage, abundance and incidence rate. However, when analysed separately, we found positive grand mean effect sizes for herbivore abundance and species richness. For herbivore damage and incidence rate we found a significant but opposing shift along a gradient of MAT indicating that with increasing MAT diversity effects on herbivore damage tend towards associational resistance whereas diversity effects on incidence rates tend towards associational susceptibility. Our results contradict previous meta-analyses reporting overall associational resistance to insect herbivores in mixed forests. Instead, we report that tree diversity effects on insect herbivores can follow a biogeographic pattern calling for further in-depth studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Kambach
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Ingolf Kühn
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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41
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Murphy SJ, Xu K, Comita LS. Tree seedling richness, but not neighborhood composition, influences insect herbivory in a temperate deciduous forest community. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:6310-9. [PMID: 27648245 PMCID: PMC5016651 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect herbivores can serve as important regulators of plant dynamics, but their impacts in temperate forest understories have received minimal attention at local scales. Here, we test several related hypotheses about the influence of plant neighborhood composition on insect leaf damage in southwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Using data on seedlings and adult trees sampled at 36 sites over an approximately 900 ha area, we tested for the effects of total plant density, rarefied species richness (i.e., resource concentration and dietary‐mixing hypotheses), conspecific density (i.e., Janzen–Connell hypothesis), and heterospecific density (i.e., herd‐immunity hypothesis), on the proportion of leaf tissue removed from 290 seedlings of 20 species. We also tested for the effects of generic‐ and familial‐level neighborhoods. Our results showed that the proportion of leaf tissue removed ranged from zero to just under 50% across individuals, but was generally quite low (<2%). Using linear mixed models, we found a significant negative relationship between insect damage and rarefied species richness, but no relationship with neighborhood density or composition. In addition, leaf damage had no significant effect on subsequent seedling growth or survival, likely due to the low levels of damage experienced by most individuals. Our results provide some support for the resource concentration hypothesis, but suggest a limited role for insect herbivores in driving local‐scale seedling dynamics in temperate forest understories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Murphy
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University 318 W. 12th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210-1293
| | - Kaiyang Xu
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University 195 Prospect Street New Haven Connecticut 06511
| | - Liza S Comita
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University 195 Prospect Street New Haven Connecticut 06511; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Box 0843-03092 Balboa Ancón Panama
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42
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Maoela MA, Jacobs SM, Roets F, Esler KJ. Invasion, alien control and restoration: Legacy effects linked to folivorous insects and phylopathogenic fungi. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malebajoa A. Maoela
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
| | - Shayne M. Jacobs
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
| | - Francois Roets
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI); University of Pretoria; Pretoria
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
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43
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Chilima C, Bulambo VM, Chiotha S. The impact of deforestation and forest conversion on abundance and diversity of insects and plants in a miombo forest. Afr J Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clement Chilima
- Forestry Research Institute of Malawi; Kufa Road, PO Box 270 Zomba Malawi
| | | | - Sosten Chiotha
- Chancellor College; University of Malawi; PO Box 280 Zomba Malawi
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44
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Salazar D, Jaramillo A, Marquis RJ. The impact of plant chemical diversity on plant-herbivore interactions at the community level. Oecologia 2016; 181:1199-208. [PMID: 27129320 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3629-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the role of diversity in ecosystem processes and species interactions is a central goal of ecology. For plant-herbivore interactions, it has been hypothesized that when plant species diversity is reduced, loss of plant biomass to herbivores increases. Although long-standing, this hypothesis has received mixed support. Increasing plant chemical diversity with increasing plant taxonomic diversity is likely to be important for plant-herbivore interactions at the community level, but the role of chemical diversity is unexplored. Here we assess the effect of volatile chemical diversity on patterns of herbivore damage in naturally occurring patches of Piper (Piperaceae) shrubs in a Costa Rican lowland wet forest. Volatile chemical diversity negatively affected total, specialist, and generalist herbivore damage. Furthermore, there were differences between the effects of high-volatility and low-volatility chemical diversity on herbivore damage. High-volatility diversity reduced specialist herbivory, while low-volatility diversity reduced generalist herbivory. Our data suggest that, although increased plant diversity is expected to reduce average herbivore damage, this pattern is likely mediated by the diversity of defensive compounds and general classes of anti-herbivore traits, as well as the degree of specialization of the herbivores attacking those plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Salazar
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California-Berkeley, 1005 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3140, USA. .,Department of Biology and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, One University Boulevard, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA.
| | - Alejandra Jaramillo
- Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Robert J Marquis
- Department of Biology and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, One University Boulevard, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
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45
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Adams MO, Fiedler K. Low Herbivory among Targeted Reforestation Sites in the Andean Highlands of Southern Ecuador. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151277. [PMID: 26963395 PMCID: PMC4786223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect herbivory constitutes an important constraint in the viability and management of targeted reforestation sites. Focusing on young experimental stands at about 2000 m elevation in southern Ecuador, we examined foliar damage over one season as a function of tree species and habitat. Native tree species (Successional hardwood: Cedrela montana and Tabebuia chrysantha; fast-growing pioneer: Heliocarpus americanus) have been planted among prevailing local landcover types (abandoned pasture, secondary shrub vegetation, and a Pinus patula plantation) in 2003/4. Plantation trees were compared to conspecifics in the spontaneous undergrowth of adjacent undisturbed rainforest matched for height and foliar volume. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that H. americanus as a pioneer species suffers more herbivory compared to the two successional tree species, and that damage is inversely related to habitat complexity. Overall leaf damage caused by folivorous insects (excluding leafcutter ants) was low. Average leaf loss was highest among T. chrysantha (7.50% ± 0.19 SE of leaf area), followed by H. americanus (4.67% ± 0.18 SE) and C. montana (3.18% ± 0.15 SE). Contrary to expectations, leaf area loss was highest among trees in closed-canopy natural rainforest, followed by pine plantation, pasture, and secondary shrub sites. Harvesting activity of leafcutter ants (Acromyrmex sp.) was strongly biased towards T. chrysantha growing in open habitat (mean pasture: 2.5%; shrub: 10.5%) where it could result in considerable damage (> 90.0%). Insect folivory is unlikely to pose a barrier for reforestation in the tropical Andean mountain forest zone at present, but leafcutter ants may become problematic if local temperatures increase in the wake of global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Oliver Adams
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Konrad Fiedler
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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46
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Korell L, Schmidt R, Bruelheide H, Hensen I, Auge H. Mechanisms driving diversity-productivity relationships differ between exotic and native communities and are affected by gastropod herbivory. Oecologia 2015; 180:1025-36. [PMID: 26235964 PMCID: PMC4819496 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3395-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity experiments have shown that productivity usually increases with plant species richness. However, most of those studies disregarded the importance of trophic interactions to the diversity-productivity relationship, and focused on the loss of native species while ignoring invasions by exotic species. Yet, as functional complementarity and the impact of plant antagonists are likely to differ between native and exotic communities, the diversity-productivity relationship may change when native communities are invaded by exotic species. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to test how diversity effects, evenness, and productivity differed between exotic and native assemblages of grassland plants, and how these communities were influenced by slug herbivory. In line with other experiments, we found higher productivity in exotic than in native communities. However, different mechanisms (complementarity vs. selection effect) contributed to the positive diversity-productivity relationships in exotic vs. native communities. Against expectations, native communities showed much lower evenness and a greater selection effect, suggesting that competitive dominance among native species may be even stronger than among exotic species. Slug herbivory decreased productivity independently of species origin and species diversity. However, exotic communities showed a threefold higher complementarity effect than native communities in the absence of slugs, which was mainly driven by differences in the responses of native and exotic legumes and nonleguminous herbs. Our results imply that underlying mechanisms for the positive diversity-productivity relationship differ between native and exotic communities in the early stages of community development, and that differential responses of plant functional groups to generalist herbivory can contribute to this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte Korell
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany. .,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany. .,Institute of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Robin Schmidt
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Isabell Hensen
- Institute of Biology, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Harald Auge
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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47
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Schuldt A, Bruelheide H, Härdtle W, Assmann T, Li Y, Ma K, von Oheimb G, Zhang J. Early positive effects of tree species richness on herbivory in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment influence tree growth. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2015; 103:563-571. [PMID: 26690688 PMCID: PMC4672697 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of herbivory for the structure and functioning of species-rich forests, little is known about how herbivory is affected by tree species richness, and more specifically by random vs. non-random species loss. We assessed herbivore damage and its effects on tree growth in the early stage of a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China that features random and non-random extinction scenarios of tree mixtures numbering between one and 24 species. In contrast to random species loss, the non-random extinction scenarios were based on the tree species' local rarity and specific leaf area - traits that may strongly influence the way herbivory is affected by plant species richness. Herbivory increased with tree species richness across all scenarios and was unaffected by the different species compositions in the random and non-random extinction scenarios. Whereas tree growth rates were positively related to herbivory on plots with smaller trees, growth rates significantly declined with increasing herbivory on plots with larger trees. Our results suggest that the effects of herbivory on growth rates increase from monocultures to the most species-rich plant communities and that negative effects with increasing tree species richness become more pronounced with time as trees grow larger. Synthesis. Our results indicate that key trophic interactions can be quick to become established in forest plantations (i.e. already 2.5 years after tree planting). Stronger herbivory effects on tree growth with increasing tree species richness suggest a potentially important role of herbivory in regulating ecosystem functions and the structural development of species-rich forests from the very start of secondary forest succession. The lack of significant differences between the extinction scenarios, however, contrasts with findings from natural forests of higher successional age, where rarity had negative effects on herbivory. This indicates that the effects of non-random species loss could change with forest succession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schuldt
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University LüneburgScharnhorststr. 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, University of HalleAm Kirchtor 1, D-06108, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigDeutscher Platz 5e, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Härdtle
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University LüneburgScharnhorststr. 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Assmann
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University LüneburgScharnhorststr. 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Ying Li
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University LüneburgScharnhorststr. 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Keping Ma
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, 100093, China
| | - Goddert von Oheimb
- Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität DresdenPienner Str. 7, D-01737, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Jiayong Zhang
- Institute of Ecology, Zhejiang Normal UniversityYinbing Road 688, 321004, Jinhua, China
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48
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Schuldt A, Staab M. Tree Species Richness Strengthens Relationships between Ants and the Functional Composition of Spider Assemblages in a Highly Diverse Forest. Biotropica 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schuldt
- Leuphana University Lüneburg; Institute of Ecology; Scharnhorststr. 1 D-21335 Lüneburg Germany
| | - Michael Staab
- University of Freiburg; Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Tennenbacherstr. 4 D-79106 Freiburg Germany
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49
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Muiruri EW, Milligan HT, Morath S, Koricheva J. Moose browsing alters tree diversity effects on birch growth and insect herbivory. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evalyne W. Muiruri
- School of Biological Sciences Royal Holloway University of London Egham Surrey TW20 0EX UK
| | - Harriet T. Milligan
- School of Biological Sciences Royal Holloway University of London Egham Surrey TW20 0EX UK
| | - Simon Morath
- School of Biological Sciences Royal Holloway University of London Egham Surrey TW20 0EX UK
| | - Julia Koricheva
- School of Biological Sciences Royal Holloway University of London Egham Surrey TW20 0EX UK
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50
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Staab M, Blüthgen N, Klein AM. Tree diversity alters the structure of a tri-trophic network in a biodiversity experiment. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Staab
- Inst. of Ecology, Leuphana Univ. of Lüneburg; Scharnhorststraße 1 DE-21335 Lüneburg Germany
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Inst. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Freiburg; Tennenbacherstraße 4 DE-79106 Freiburg Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Dept of Biology; Technical Univ. Darmstadt; Schnittspahnstraße 10 DE-64287 Darmstadt Germany
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Inst. of Ecology, Leuphana Univ. of Lüneburg; Scharnhorststraße 1 DE-21335 Lüneburg Germany
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Inst. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Freiburg; Tennenbacherstraße 4 DE-79106 Freiburg Germany
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