Experimental warming increases herbivory by leaf-chewing insects in an alpine plant community.

ABSTRACT: Climate warming is predicted to affect species and trophic interactions worldwide, and alpine ecosystems are expected to be especially sensitive to changes. In this study, we used two ongoing climate warming (open-top chambers) experiments at Finse, southern Norway, to examine whether warming had an effect on herbivory by leaf-chewing insects in an alpine Dryas heath community. We recorded feeding marks on the most common vascular plant species in warmed and control plots at two experimental sites at different elevations and carried out a brief inventory of insect herbivores. Experimental warming increased herbivory on Dryas octopetala and Bistorta vivipara. Dryas octopetala also experienced increased herbivory at the lower and warmer site, indicating an overall positi

SUBMITTER: Birkemoe T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513215 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature