Multi-trophic communities re-establish with canopy cover and microclimate in a subtropical forest biodiversity experiment.

ABSTRACT: Plant diversity affects multi-trophic communities, but in young regrowth forests, where forest insects are in the process of re-establishment, other biotic and also abiotic factors might be more important. We studied cavity-nesting bees, wasps and their natural enemies along an experimental tree diversity gradient in subtropical South-East China. We compared insect communities of experimental young forests with communities of established natural forests nearby the experiment and tested for direct and indirect effects of tree diversity, tree basal area (a proxy of tree biomass), canopy cover and microclimate on bee and wasp community composition, abundance and species richness. Finally, we tested if the trophic levels of bees, herbivore-hunting wasps, spider-hunting wasps and their natural

SUBMITTER: Fornoff F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8139880 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature