1
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Eisenring M, Best RJ, Zierden MR, Cooper HF, Norstrem MA, Whitham TG, Grady K, Allan GJ, Lindroth RL. Genetic divergence along a climate gradient shapes chemical plasticity of a foundation tree species to both changing climate and herbivore damage. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4684-4700. [PMID: 35596651 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is threatening the persistence of many tree species via independent and interactive effects on abiotic and biotic conditions. In addition, changes in temperature, precipitation, and insect attacks can alter the traits of these trees, disrupting communities and ecosystems. For foundation species such as Populus, phytochemical traits are key mechanisms linking trees with their environment and are likely jointly determined by interactive effects of genetic divergence and variable environments throughout their geographic range. Using reciprocal Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) common gardens along a steep climatic gradient, we explored how environment (garden climate and simulated herbivore damage) and genetics (tree provenance and genotype) affect both foliar chemical traits and the plasticity of these traits. We found that (1) Constitutive and plastic chemical responses to changes in garden climate and damage varied among defense compounds, structural compounds, and leaf nitrogen. (2) For both defense and structural compounds, plastic responses to different garden climates depended on the climate in which a population or genotype originated. Specifically, trees originating from cool provenances showed higher defense plasticity in response to climate changes than trees from warmer provenances. (3) Trees from cool provenances growing in cool garden conditions expressed the lowest constitutive defense levels but the strongest induced (plastic) defenses in response to damage. (4) The combination of hot garden conditions and simulated herbivory switched the strategy used by these genotypes, increasing constitutive defenses but erasing the capacity for induction after damage. Because Fremont cottonwood chemistry plays a major role in shaping riparian communities and ecosystems, the effects of changes in phytochemical traits can be wide reaching. As the southwestern US is confronted with warming temperatures and insect outbreaks, these results improve our capacity to predict ecosystem consequences of climate change and inform selection of tree genotypes for conservation and restoration purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Eisenring
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Forest Entomology, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca J Best
- School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Mark R Zierden
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hillary F Cooper
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Madelyn A Norstrem
- School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Thomas G Whitham
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Kevin Grady
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Gerard J Allan
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Richard L Lindroth
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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2
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Mertens D, Bouwmeester K, Poelman EH. Intraspecific variation in plant-associated herbivore communities is phylogenetically structured in Brassicaceae. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2314-2327. [PMID: 34331409 PMCID: PMC9291228 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As a result of co‐evolution between plants and herbivores, related plants often interact with similar herbivore communities. Variation in plant–herbivore interactions is determined by variation in underlying functional traits and by ecological and stochastic processes. Hence, typically, only a subset of possible interactions is realised on individual plants. We show that insect herbivore communities assembling on individual plants are structured by plant phylogeny among 12 species in two phylogenetic lineages of Brassicaceae. This community sorting to plant phylogeny was retained when splitting the community according to herbivore feeding guilds. Relative abundance of herbivores as well as the size of the community structured community dissimilarity among plant species. Importantly, the amount of intraspecific variation in realised plant–herbivore interactions is also phylogenetically structured. We argue that variability in realised interactions that are not directly structured by plant traits is ecologically relevant and must be considered in the evolution of plant defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan Mertens
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Bouwmeester
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik H Poelman
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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3
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Wang Z, Zhao L, Liu J, Yang Y, Shi J, Wen J, Gao R. Functional relationship between woody plants and insect communities in response to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infestation in the Three Gorges Reservoir region. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8843-8855. [PMID: 34257932 PMCID: PMC8258193 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the effect of the invasion of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus on the functional relationship between woody plants and insect communities, the populations of tree species and insect communities were investigative in the Masson pine forests with different infestation durations of B. xylophilus. In this study, the number of Pinus massoniana began to decrease sharply, whereas the total number of other tree species in the arboreal layer increased gradually with the infestation duration of B. xylophilus. The principal component analysis ordination biplot shows that there was a significant change in the spatial distribution of woody plant species in different Masson pine forest stands. Additionally, a total of 7,188 insect specimens were obtained. The insect population showed an upward trend in stand types with the increase of pine wilt disease infection periods, which demonstrated that the insect community had been significantly affected by the invasion of B. xylophilus. However, the insect diversity indexes were not significantly different among Masson pine forest stands. The structure of insect functional groups changed from herbivorous (He) > omnivorous (Om) > predatory (Pr) > parasitic (Pa) > detritivorous (De) in the control stand to He > Pa > Om, De > Pr after B. xylophilus infestation in the forests. The results showed that the populations of He, Pa, and De increased after the invasion of B. xylophilus, but the populations of Pr decreased. Moreover, the redundancy analysis ordination biplots reflected the complicated functional relationship between woody plant communities and insects after the invasion of B. xylophilus. The present study provides insights into the changes in the community structure of woody plants and insects, as well as the functional relationship between woody plant communities and insect communities after invasion of B. xylophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest ControlCollege of ForestryBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Lijuan Zhao
- College of MarxismShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiguChina
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- College of ForestryShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiguChina
| | - Yajie Yang
- College of ForestryShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiguChina
| | - Juan Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest ControlCollege of ForestryBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Junbao Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest ControlCollege of ForestryBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ruihe Gao
- College of ForestryShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiguChina
- Shanxi Dangerous Forest Pest Inspection and Identification CenterTaiguShanxiChina
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4
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Perkovich C, Ward D. Herbivore-induced defenses are not under phylogenetic constraints in the genus Quercus (oak): Phylogenetic patterns of growth, defense, and storage. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5187-5203. [PMID: 34026000 PMCID: PMC8131805 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of plant defenses is often constrained by phylogeny. Many of the differences between competing plant defense theories hinge upon the differences in the location of meristem damage (apical versus auxiliary) and the amount of tissue removed. We analyzed the growth and defense responses of 12 Quercus (oak) species from a well-resolved molecular phylogeny using phylogenetically independent contrasts. Access to light is paramount for forest-dwelling tree species, such as many members of the genus Quercus. We therefore predicted a greater investment in defense when apical meristem tissue was removed. We also predicted a greater investment in defense when large amounts of tissue were removed and a greater investment in growth when less tissues were removed. We conducted five simulated herbivory treatments including a control with no damage and alterations of the location of meristem damage (apical versus auxiliary shoots) and intensity (25% versus 75% tissue removal). We measured growth, defense, and nutrient re-allocation traits in response to simulated herbivory. Phylomorphospace models were used to demonstrate the phylogenetic nature of trade-offs between characteristics of growth, chemical defenses, and nutrient re-allocation. We found that growth-defense trade-offs in control treatments were under phylogenetic constraints, but phylogenetic constraints and growth-defense trade-offs were not common in the simulated herbivory treatments. Growth-defense constraints exist within the Quercus genus, although there are adaptations to herbivory that vary among species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Ward
- Department of Biological SciencesKent State UniversityKentOHUSA
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Mertens D, Boege K, Kessler A, Koricheva J, Thaler JS, Whiteman NK, Poelman EH. Predictability of Biotic Stress Structures Plant Defence Evolution. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:444-456. [PMID: 33468354 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
To achieve ecological and reproductive success, plants need to mitigate a multitude of stressors. The stressors encountered by plants are highly dynamic but typically vary predictably due to seasonality or correlations among stressors. As plants face physiological and ecological constraints in responses to stress, it can be beneficial for plants to evolve the ability to incorporate predictable patterns of stress in their life histories. Here, we discuss how plants predict adverse conditions, which plant strategies integrate predictability of biotic stress, and how such strategies can evolve. We propose that plants commonly optimise responses to correlated sequences or combinations of herbivores and pathogens, and that the predictability of these patterns is a key factor governing plant strategies in dynamic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan Mertens
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Karina Boege
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70-275, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - André Kessler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Julia Koricheva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | | | - Noah K Whiteman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Erik H Poelman
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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6
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Poeydebat C, Jactel H, Moreira X, Koricheva J, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Eisenhauer N, Ferlian O, Francisco M, Gottschall F, Gravel D, Mason B, Muiruri E, Muys B, Nock C, Paquette A, Ponette Q, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Stokes V, Staab M, Verheyen K, Castagneyrol B. Climate affects neighbour-induced changes in leaf chemical defences and tree diversity-herbivory relationships. Funct Ecol 2020; 35:67-81. [PMID: 33746332 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Associational resistance theory predicts that insect herbivory decreases with increasing tree diversity in forest ecosystems. However, the generality of this effect and its underlying mechanisms are still debated, particularly since evidence has accumulated that climate may influence the direction and strength of the relationship between diversity and herbivory.We quantified insect leaf herbivory and leaf chemical defences (phenolic compounds) of silver birch Betula pendula in pure and mixed plots with different tree species composition across 12 tree diversity experiments in different climates. We investigated whether the effects of neighbouring tree species diversity on insect herbivory in birch, that is, associational effects, were dependent on the climatic context, and whether neighbour-induced changes in birch chemical defences were involved in associational resistance to insect herbivory.We showed that herbivory on birch decreased with tree species richness (i.e. associational resistance) in colder environments but that this relationship faded as mean annual temperature increased.Birch leaf chemical defences increased with tree species richness but decreased with the phylogenetic distinctiveness of birch from its neighbours, particularly in warmer and more humid environments.Herbivory was negatively correlated with leaf chemical defences, particularly when birch was associated with closely related species. The interactive effect of tree diversity and climate on herbivory was partially mediated by changes in leaf chemical defences.Our findings confirm that tree species diversity can modify the leaf chemistry of a focal species, hence its quality for herbivores. They further stress that such neighbour-induced changes are dependent on climate and that tree diversity effects on insect herbivory are partially mediated by these neighbour-induced changes in chemical defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Poeydebat
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
| | - Hervé Jactel
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
| | | | - Julia Koricheva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | | | - Jürgen Bauhus
- Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Felix Gottschall
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dominique Gravel
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Bill Mason
- Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin Midlothian, UK
| | - Evalyne Muiruri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Bart Muys
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charles Nock
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Faculty of Biology, Department of Geobotany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alain Paquette
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Quentin Ponette
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering & Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | - Victoria Stokes
- Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin Midlothian, UK
| | - Michael Staab
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Bastien Castagneyrol
- INRAE, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,Université de Bordeaux, BIOGECO, UMR 1202, Talence, France
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