Aboveground–belowground herbivore interactions: a meta-analysis

Johnson, Scott N.; Clark, Katherine E.; Hartley, Susan E.; Jones, T. Hefin; McKenzie, Scott W.; Koricheva, Julia. 2012 Aboveground–belowground herbivore interactions: a meta-analysis. Ecology, 93 (10). 2208-2215. 10.1890/11-2272.1

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-2272.1

Abstract/Summary

Research investigating interactions between aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) herbivores has been central to characterizing AG–BG linkages in terrestrial ecosystems, with many of these interactions forming the basis of complex food webs spanning the two subsystems. Despite the growing literature on the effects of AG and BG herbivores on each other, underlying patterns have been difficult to identify due to a high degree of context dependency. In this study, we present the first quantitative meta-analysis of AG and BG herbivore interactions. Previous global predictions, specifically that BG herbivores normally promoted AG herbivore performance and AG herbivores normally reduced BG herbivore performance, were not supported. Instead, the meta-analysis identified four factors that determined the outcome of AG–BG interactions. (1) Sequence of herbivore arrival on host plants was important, with BG herbivores promoting AG herbivore performance only when introduced to the plant simultaneously, whereas AG herbivores had negative effects on BG herbivores only when introduced first. (2) AG herbivores negatively affected BG herbivore survival but tended to increase population growth rates. (3) AG herbivores negatively affected BG herbivore performance on annual plants, but not on perennials, and these effects were observed more consistently in laboratory than field studies. (4) The type of herbivore was also important, with BG insect herbivores belonging to the order Diptera (i.e., true flies) having the strongest negative effects on AG herbivores. Coleoptera (i.e., beetles) species were the most widely investigated BG herbivores and had positive impacts on AG Homoptera (e.g., aphids), but negative effects on AG Hymenoptera (e.g., sawflies). The strongest negative outcomes for BG herbivores were seen when the AG herbivore was a Coleoptera species. We found no evidence for publication bias in AG–BG herbivore interaction literature and conclude that several biological and experimental factors are important for predicting the outcome of AG–BG herbivore interactions. The sequence of herbivore arrival on the host plant was among the most influential

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1890/11-2272.1
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Watt
ISSN:	0012-9658
Additional Keywords:	induced plant defense, induced susceptibility, meta-analysis, plant–herbivore interactions, root herbivores, stress response, systemic signals
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Zoology Data and Information
Date made live:	21 Jan 2013 11:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21026

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1890/11-2272.1

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Watt

ISSN:

0012-9658

Additional Keywords:

induced plant defense, induced susceptibility, meta-analysis, plant–herbivore interactions, root herbivores, stress response, systemic signals