Plant traits affecting herbivory on tree recruits in highly diverse subtropical forests

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

Differences in herbivory among woody species can greatly affect the functioning of forest ecosystems, particularly in species-rich (sub)tropical regions. However, the relative importance of the different plant traits which determine herbivore damage remains unclear. Defence traits can have strong effects on herbivory, but rarely studied geographical range characteristics could complement these effects through evolutionary associations with herbivores. Herein, we use a large number of morphological, chemical, phylogenetic and biogeographical characteristics to analyse interspecific differences in herbivory on tree saplings in subtropical China. Unexpectedly, we found no significant effects of chemical defence traits. Rather, herbivory was related to the plants' leaf morphology, local abundance and climatic niche characteristics, which together explained 70% of the interspecific variation in herbivory in phylogenetic regression. Our study indicates that besides defence traits and apparency to herbivores, previously neglected measures of large-scale geographical host distribution are important factors influencing local herbivory patterns among plant species.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftEcology Letters
Jahrgang15
Ausgabenummer7
Seiten (von - bis)732-739
Anzahl der Seiten8
ISSN1461-023X
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 07.2012

    Fachgebiete

  • Biologie
  • Ökosystemforschung - BEF-China, ecosystem functioning, Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, latitudinal range, phenolics, phytochemical diversity

DOI

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