Host functional and phylogenetic composition rather than host diversity structure plant–herbivore networks
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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in: Molecular Ecology, Jahrgang 29, Nr. 14, 01.07.2020, S. 2747-2762.
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Host functional and phylogenetic composition rather than host diversity structure plant–herbivore networks
AU - Wang, Ming Qiang
AU - Li, Yi
AU - Chesters, Douglas
AU - Bruelheide, Helge
AU - Ma, Keping
AU - Guo, Peng Fei
AU - Zhou, Qing Song
AU - Staab, Michael
AU - Zhu, Chao Dong
AU - Schuldt, Andreas
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - Declining plant diversity alters ecological networks, such as plant–herbivore interactions. However, our knowledge of the potential mechanisms underlying effects of plant species loss on plant–herbivore network structure is still limited. We used DNA barcoding to identify herbivore–host plant associations along declining levels of tree diversity in a large-scale, subtropical biodiversity experiment. We tested for effects of tree species richness, host functional and phylogenetic diversity, and host functional (leaf trait) and phylogenetic composition on species, phylogenetic and network composition of herbivore communities. We found that phylogenetic host composition and related palatability/defence traits but not tree species richness significantly affected herbivore communities and interaction network complexity at both the species and community levels. Our study indicates that evolutionary dependencies and functional traits of host plants determine the composition of higher trophic levels and corresponding interaction networks in species-rich ecosystems. Our findings highlight that characteristics of the species lost have effects on ecosystem structure and functioning across trophic levels that cannot be predicted from mere reductions in species richness.
AB - Declining plant diversity alters ecological networks, such as plant–herbivore interactions. However, our knowledge of the potential mechanisms underlying effects of plant species loss on plant–herbivore network structure is still limited. We used DNA barcoding to identify herbivore–host plant associations along declining levels of tree diversity in a large-scale, subtropical biodiversity experiment. We tested for effects of tree species richness, host functional and phylogenetic diversity, and host functional (leaf trait) and phylogenetic composition on species, phylogenetic and network composition of herbivore communities. We found that phylogenetic host composition and related palatability/defence traits but not tree species richness significantly affected herbivore communities and interaction network complexity at both the species and community levels. Our study indicates that evolutionary dependencies and functional traits of host plants determine the composition of higher trophic levels and corresponding interaction networks in species-rich ecosystems. Our findings highlight that characteristics of the species lost have effects on ecosystem structure and functioning across trophic levels that cannot be predicted from mere reductions in species richness.
KW - BEF-China
KW - DNA barcoding
KW - functional traits
KW - insect decline
KW - phylogenetic composition
KW - plant–insect interactions
KW - Biology
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087435570&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/mec.15518
DO - 10.1111/mec.15518
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 32564434
AN - SCOPUS:85087435570
VL - 29
SP - 2747
EP - 2762
JO - Molecular Ecology
JF - Molecular Ecology
SN - 0962-1083
IS - 14
ER -