The root herbivore history of the soil affects the productivity of a grassland plant community and determines plant response to new root herbivore attack.

ABSTRACT: Insect root herbivores can alter plant community structure by affecting the competitive ability of single plants. However, their effects can be modified by the soil environment. Root herbivory itself may induce changes in the soil biota community, and it has recently been shown that these changes can affect plant growth in a subsequent season or plant generation. However, so far it is not known whether these root herbivore history effects (i) are detectable at the plant community level and/or (ii) also determine plant species and plant community responses to new root herbivore attack. The present greenhouse study determined root herbivore history effects of click beetle larvae (Elateridae, Coleoptera, genus Agriotes) in a model grassland plant community consisting of six common species (Ac

SUBMITTER: Sonnemann I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3575479 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature