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Experimental warming increases herbivory by leaf-chewing insects in an alpine plant community.

Authors :
Birkemoe, Tone
Bergmann, Saskia
Hasle, Toril E.
Klanderud, Kari
Source :
Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Oct2016, Vol. 6 Issue 19, p6955-6962. 8p.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Climate warming is predicted to affect species and trophic interactions worldwide, and alpine ecosystems are expected to be especially sensitive to changes. In this study, we used two ongoing climate warming (open-top chambers) experiments at Finse, southern Norway, to examine whether warming had an effect on herbivory by leaf-chewing insects in an alpine Dryas heath community. We recorded feeding marks on the most common vascular plant species in warmed and control plots at two experimental sites at different elevations and carried out a brief inventory of insect herbivores. Experimental warming increased herbivory on Dryas octopetala and Bistorta vivipara. Dryas octopetala also experienced increased herbivory at the lower and warmer site, indicating an overall positive effect of warming, whereas B. vivipara experienced an increased herbivory at the colder and higher site indicating a mixed effect of warming. The Lepidoptera Zygaena exulans and Sympistis nigrita were the two most common leaf-chewing insects in the Dryas heath. Based on the observed patterns of herbivory, the insects life cycles and feeding preferences, we argue that Z. exulans is the most important herbivore on B. vivipara, and S. nigrita the most important herbivore on D. octopetala. We conclude that if the degree of insect herbivory increases in a warmer world, as suggested by this study and others, complex interactions between plants, insects, and site-specific conditions make it hard to predict overall effects on plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20457758
Volume :
6
Issue :
19
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Ecology & Evolution (20457758)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
118526761
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2398