Host functional and phylogenetic composition rather than host diversity structure plant–herbivore networks

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Ming Qiang Wang
  • Yi Li
  • Douglas Chesters
  • Helge Bruelheide
  • Keping Ma
  • Peng Fei Guo
  • Qing Song Zhou
  • Michael Staab
  • Chao Dong Zhu
  • Andreas Schuldt

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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMolecular Ecology
Volume29
Issue number14
Pages (from-to)2747-2762
Number of pages16
ISSN0962-1083
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

    Research areas

  • BEF-China, DNA barcoding, functional traits, insect decline, phylogenetic composition, plant–insect interactions
  • Biology
  • Ecosystems Research

DOI

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