Journal article
Search for top-down and bottom-up drivers of latitudinal trends in insect herbivory in oak trees in Europe
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol.30(3), pp.651-665
2021
Abstract
Aim:
The strength of species interactions is traditionally expected to increase toward the Equator. However, recent studies have reported opposite or inconsistent latitudinal trends in the bottom-up (plant quality) and top-down (natural enemies) forces driving herbivory. In addition, these forces have rarely been studied together thus limiting previous attempts to understand the effect of large-scale climatic gradients on herbivory.
Location:
Europe.
Time period:
2018–2019.
Major taxa studied:
Quercus robur.
Methods:
We simultaneously tested for latitudinal variation in plant–herbivore–natural enemy interactions. We further investigated the underlying climatic factors associated with variation in herbivory, leaf chemistry and attack rates in Quercus robur across its complete latitudinal range in Europe. We quantified insect leaf damage and the incidence of specialist herbivores as well as leaf chemistry and bird attack rates on dummy caterpillars on 261 oak trees.
Results:
Climatic factors rather than latitude per se were the best predictors of the large-scale (geographical) variation in the incidence of gall-inducers and leaf-miners as well as in leaf nutritional content. However, leaf damage, plant chemical defences (leaf phenolics) and bird attack rates were not influenced by climatic factors or latitude. The incidence of leaf-miners increased with increasing concentrations of hydrolysable tannins, whereas the incidence of gall-inducers increased with increasing leaf soluble sugar concentration and decreased with increasing leaf C : N ratios and lignins. However, leaf traits and bird attack rates did not vary with leaf damage.
Main conclusions:
These findings help to refine our understanding of the bottom-up and top-down mechanisms driving geographical variation in plant–herbivore interactions, and indicate the need for further examination of the drivers of herbivory on trees.
Details
- Title
- Search for top-down and bottom-up drivers of latitudinal trends in insect herbivory in oak trees in Europe
- Authors
- Elena Valdés-Correcher (Corresponding Author) - University of BordeauxXoaquín Moreira (Author) - Misión Biológica de GaliciaLaurent Augusto (Author) - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentLuc Barbaro (Author) - University of ToulouseChristophe Bouget (Author) - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentOlivier B Bouriaud (Author) - Ştefan cel Mare University of SuceavaManuela Branco (Author) - University of LisbonGiada Centenaro (Author) - University of PaduaGyorgy Csoka (Author) - National Agricultural Research and Innovation CentreThomas Damestoy (Author) - University of BordeauxSee article text for complete list of authors (Author)Andy G Howe (Author) - University of Copenhagen
- Publication details
- Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol.30(3), pp.651-665
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/geb.13244
- ISSN
- 1466-8238
- Organisation Unit
- Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99979798302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
30 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Geography, Physical
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites