Bottom-up and top-down effects of tree species diversity on leaf insect herbivory.

ABSTRACT: The diversity of plant neighbors commonly results in direct, bottom-up effects on herbivore ability to locate their host, and in indirect effects on herbivores involving changes in plant traits and a top-down control by their enemies. Yet, the relative contribution of bottom-up and top-down forces remains poorly understood. We also lack knowledge on the effect of abiotic constraints such as summer drought on the strength and direction of these effects. We measured leaf damage on pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), alone or associated with birch, pine or both in a long-term tree diversity experiment (ORPHEE), where half of the plots were irrigated while the other half remained without irrigation and received only rainfall. We tested three mechanisms likely to explain the effects of oak

SUBMITTER: Castagneyrol B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5433970 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature