Effects of plant diversity on species-specific herbivory: patterns and mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Invertebrate herbivory can shape plant communities when impacting growth and fitness of some plant species more than other species. Previous studies showed that herbivory varies among plant species and that species-specific herbivory is affected by the diversity of the surrounding plant community. However, mechanisms underlying this variation are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how plant traits and plant apparency explain differences in herbivory among plant species and we explore the effect of plant community diversity on these species-specific relationships. We found that species differed in the herbivory they experienced. Forbs were three times more damaged by herbivores than grasses. Variability within grasses was caused by differences in leaf dry matter content

SUBMITTER: Brocher M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10113292 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature