Early positive effects of tree species richness on herbivory in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment influence tree growth.

ABSTRACT: Despite the importance of herbivory for the structure and functioning of species-rich forests, little is known about how herbivory is affected by tree species richness, and more specifically by random vs. non-random species loss. We assessed herbivore damage and its effects on tree growth in the early stage of a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China that features random and non-random extinction scenarios of tree mixtures numbering between one and 24 species. In contrast to random species loss, the non-random extinction scenarios were based on the tree species' local rarity and specific leaf area - traits that may strongly influence the way herbivory is affected by plant species richness. Herbivory increased with tree species richness across all scenarios and was

SUBMITTER: Schuldt A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4672697 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature