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Canepuccia AD, Hidalgo FJ, Fanjul E, Iribarne OO. Reciprocal facilitation between ants and small mammals in tidal marshes. Oecologia 2024; 204:575-588. [PMID: 38376632 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05513-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The role of facilitation in shaping natural communities has primarily been studied in the context of plant assemblages, while its relevance for mobile animals remains less understood. Our study investigates whether reciprocal interspecific facilitation may exist between fire ants (Solenopsis richteri) and cavies (Cavia aperea), two mobile animals, in the SW Atlantic coast brackish marshes. Field samples showed a spatial association between ant mounds and cavies, and that ants prefer to use cavy runways for movement within the marsh. Through experiments involving transplanting the dominant plant, cordgrass (Spartina densiflora), and manipulating cavy presence in areas with and without ant mounds, we observed that cavies forage extensively (and defecate more) near ant mounds. The ants actively remove cavy droppings in their mound vicinity. These ant activities and interactions with cavy droppings led to reduced moisture and organic content while increasing nitrate and phosphate levels in marsh sediment. Consequently, this enhanced plant growth, indirectly facilitating the cavies, which preferred consuming vegetation near ant mounds. These cascading indirect effects persisted over time; even four months after cavies left the marshes, transplanted plants near ant mounds remained larger and exhibited more leaf senescence when exposed to cavy herbivory. Therefore, the networks of positive interactions appear to generate simultaneous selection among species (populations), promoting coexistence within the community. Although complex, these reciprocal facilitative effects among mobile animals may be more common than currently believed and should be further studied to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving species coexistence in natural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro D Canepuccia
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - Fernando J Hidalgo
- Grupo Humedales y Ambientes Costeros, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Fanjul
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Oscar O Iribarne
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Funes 3250, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
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2
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Fu J, Qin M, Liang Y, Lu Y, An Y, Luo Y. Toxicity and Behavioral Effects of Amending Soils with Biochar on Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta. INSECTS 2024; 15:42. [PMID: 38249048 PMCID: PMC10816398 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Solenopsis invicta, often known as the red imported fire ants (RIFAs), is a well-known global invasive ant species that can be found in agricultural, urban, and natural environments worldwide. Simultaneously, it also inhabits the soil. Biochar is generated by the pyrolysis of organic matter under high-temperature anoxic environments and widely used in agricultural ecosystems and soil amendment. However, to date, it remains unknown as to whether soil application of biochar has a negative effect on RIFAs. In our study, we investigated the toxicity and irritability effects of different amounts of biochar (0%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) introduced into the soil on red fire ants; upon comparison with the control soil (0% biochar), the application of 1%, 2%, and 5% biochar did not result in significantly different results. But the utilization of biochar at a concentration over 10% effectively repelled the RIFAs, resulting in their departure from the treated soils. High doses of biochar were able to cause death of red fire ants; the mortality rate of red fire ants reached 55.56% after 11 days of 20% biochar treatment. We also evaluated the effects of biochar on four behaviors of red fire ants, namely aggregation, walking, grasping, and attacking; 20% of the biochar treatment group reduced aggregation by 64.22% and this value was 55.22%, 68.44%, and 62.36% for walking, grasping, and attacking. Finally, we measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in red fire ants; the results showed that the activities of the three enzymes increased with the increase in biochar addition, which indicated that a high dose of biochar induced oxidative stress in red fire ants. Our results indicate that biochar has the potential to cause toxicity and repel red imported fire ants (RIFAs) in a manner that is dependent on the concentration. We propose that biochar could be utilized in the control and manufacturing of baits for red fire ant management. This work establishes a foundation for the prevention and management of red fire ants and the logical utilization of biochar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantao Fu
- School of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (J.F.)
- Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China
| | - Mingda Qin
- School of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (J.F.)
| | - Yue Liang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510316, China
| | - Yinglin Lu
- Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China
| | - Yuxing An
- Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China
| | - Yanping Luo
- School of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (J.F.)
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3
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Xu Y, Guo Y, Bai Y, Liu Y, Wang Y. Soil nutrient limitation and natural enemies promote the establishment of alien species in native communities. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10853. [PMID: 38259957 PMCID: PMC10803180 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasion of alien plant species threatens the composition and diversity of native communities. However, the invasiveness of alien plants and the resilience of native communities are dependent on the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors, such as natural enemies and nutrient availability. In our study, we simulated the invasion of nine invasive plant species into native plant communities using two levels of nutrient availability and suppression of natural enemies. We evaluated the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the response of alien target species and the resistance of native communities to invasion. The results showed that the presence of enemies (enemy release) increased the biomass proportion of alien plants while decreasing that of native communities in the absence of nutrient addition. Furthermore, we also found that the negative effect of enemy suppression on the evenness of the native community and the root-to-shoot ratio of alien target species was greatest under nutrient addition. Therefore, nutrient-poor and natural enemies might promote the invasive success of alien species in native communities, whereas nutrient addition and enemy suppression can better enhance the resistance of native plant communities to invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Han Xu
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yu‐Jian Guo
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yan‐Feng Bai
- Research Institute of ForestryChinese Academy of ForestryBeijingChina
| | - Yuan‐Yuan Liu
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yong‐Jian Wang
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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4
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Li T, Zhong Z, Pearson DE, Ortega YK, Li W, Li Y, Zhu H, Risch AC, Wang D. Parasites as ecosystem modulators: foliar pathogens suppress top-down effects of large herbivores. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 239:340-349. [PMID: 36978282 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can catalyze or inhibit interactions between their hosts and other species, but the ecosystem-level effects of such interaction modifications are poorly understood. We conducted a large-scale field experiment in temperate grasslands of China to understand how foliar fungal pathogens influenced top-down effects of cattle on plant diversity and productivity. When foliar pathogens were suppressed, cattle grazing strongly reduced biomass of the dominant grass, Leymus chinensis, generating competitive release that significantly increased community-level species richness and evenness. In the absence of grazing, pathogen attack on L. chinensis had no measurable effect on host biomass. However, pathogens disrupted top-down effects of herbivory by inhibiting grazing effects on plant biomass and species richness. Mechanistically, fungal pathogens were linked to increased alkaloid and reduced nitrogen levels in leaf tissue, which appeared to deter cattle grazing on L. chinensis. In conclusion, foliar pathogens can suppress top-down effects of large herbivores on grassland community composition and ecosystem function by modifying the strength of their host's interactions with dominant consumers. Parasites may act as modulators of ecosystem function when their direct effects on host abundance are overshadowed by powerful influences on host traits that modify their interactions with competitors, herbivores, or predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyun Li
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhong
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Dean E Pearson
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 800 E. Beckwith Avenue, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Yvette K Ortega
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 800 E. Beckwith Avenue, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Wenjun Li
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Yanan Li
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Anita C Risch
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Deli Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
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Consumer pressure and supplemental pollination mediate shrub facilitation of a native annual desert plant. Oecologia 2023; 201:489-498. [PMID: 36607452 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05309-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Shrubs are important factors in the assembly of desert plant and animal communities. By providing shelter and resources to other plants and animals, shrubs can change plant-animal interactions including those with consumers and pollinators. Here, we test the hypothesis that shrubs facilitate the reproduction of other desert plants by influencing pollination and compensation for consumer pressure. We used the known benefactor Larrea tridentata as our focal shrub species and the flowering annual Malacothrix glabrata as a potential protege in the Mojave Desert. We tested the effects of facilitation (shrub microsite), consumer pressure (both artificial folivory and florivory), and pollination (ambient or supplemented) on flower and seed production of the annual M. glabrata. We found that floral production and seed mass were similar between microsites but that pollen was limited under shrubs in the absence of any other manipulation. Plants under shrubs produced more flowers and seeds than in the open when folivory and florivory treatments were applied. Malacothrix glabrata experienced a cost to association with L. tridentata in terms of pollen limitation but plants were better able to compensate for consumer pressure under shrubs through increased flower and seed production when damaged. Therefore, association with shrubs involves a reproductive trade-off between costs to pollination and benefits to compensation for consumer pressure.
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6
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Ant invasion is associated with lower root density and different root distribution of a foundational savanna tree species. Biol Invasions 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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7
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Zhang Z, Zhao Y, Lin H, Li Y, Fu J, Wang Y, Sun J, Zhao Y. Comprehensive analysis of grazing intensity impacts alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A meta-analysis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1083709. [PMID: 36733589 PMCID: PMC9887153 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1083709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Livestock grazing is a dominant practice in alpine grasslands and plays a crucial role in the ecosystem service of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The effects of grazing on alpine grasslands highly depends on grazing intensity. Up to now, we still lack comprehensive understanding of the general responses of alpine grasslands to different grazing intensities over broad geographic scales across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the responses of plant characteristics and soil properties to grazing intensity in alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau based on 52 peer-reviewed literatures. The results showed that grazing did not change the belowground biomass, while significantly increased the ratio of root to shoot (P< 0.05). Light grazing exhibited no significant effects on the plant richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, soil water content, soil bulk density, nutrients, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial biomass nitrogen (P > 0.05). Moderate grazing significantly increased the plant richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity, while significantly decreased the soil organic carbon and total nitrogen (P< 0.05). Heavy grazing significantly decreased the plant richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, water content, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial biomass nitrogen, and significantly increased the soil bulk density (P< 0.05). These findings suggest that overgrazing is closely associated with grassland degradation, and moderate grazing is a sustainable practice to provide animal production and simultaneously maintain ecological functions for alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yiran Zhao
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Lin
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanpeng Li
- School of Mapping and Geographic Information, Jiangxi College of Applied Technology, Ganzhou, China
| | - Jinmin Fu
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yingxin Wang
- Grassland Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Sun
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanhua Zhao
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Rajesh TP, Manoj K, Prashanth Ballullaya U, Shibil VK, Asha G, Varma S, Mohan P, Sinu PA. Urban tropical forest islets as hotspots of ants in general and invasive ants in particular. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12003. [PMID: 35835929 PMCID: PMC9283449 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16243-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is a crucial driver of environmental and biodiversity change. It is suggested that urbanization favours generalist and invasive species and might harm specialists of natural and semi-natural habitats. In this study, we examined how an urbanization gradient and environmental gradients in the habitat area, habitat diversity, elevation, and proportion of built-up area influenced the abundance and richness of ants within tropical forest islet habitat in south India. We used abundance (proportional trap incidence) of overall ants, native ants, invasive ants, and Anoplolepis gracilipes—a globally notorious invasive ant of possible south Asian origin—and rarefied richness as the response variables. We found that native ant abundance was greater and A. gracilipes abundance was lesser in less-urbanized landscape compared to moderately-urbanized and highly-urbanized landscape. The richness of ants and abundance of overall and invasive ants were unaffected by the urbanization. We also found that none of the measured environmental gradients but habitat diversity influenced abundance of overall ants, native ants, overall invasive ants, and richness of ants; however, A. gracilipes abundance was negatively correlated with habitat diversity. Ant species composition of less-urbanized landscape was distinct from that of higher urbanization levels. The richness and abundance of native ants and abundance of non-A. gracilipes invasive ants decreased with the abundance of A. gracilipes. Because the forest islets of all three urbanization levels supported similar richness of native ants, the urbanization seems not to have an adverse effect for the native ants of native forest islets. The increasing population of A. gracilipes in urban green islets, however, is a concern. Future studies might investigate its effect on other invertebrates of epigeal and soil strata.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Rajesh
- Central University of Kerala, Periya, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - K Manoj
- Central University of Kerala, Periya, Kerala, 671316, India
| | | | - V K Shibil
- Central University of Kerala, Periya, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - G Asha
- Central University of Kerala, Periya, Kerala, 671316, India
| | | | - Prabitha Mohan
- Central University of Kerala, Periya, Kerala, 671316, India
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Li Y, Gao Y, van Kleunen M, Liu Y. Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130102 China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China
| | - Yingzhi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Ecology, Department of Biology University of Konstanz 78464 Konstanz Germany
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Taizhou University Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Yanjie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130102 China
- Ecology, Department of Biology University of Konstanz 78464 Konstanz Germany
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Zhong Z, Li X, Smit C, Li T, Wang L, Aschero V, Vázquez D, Ritchie M, Cushman JH, Wang D. Large herbivores facilitate a dominant grassland forb via multiple indirect effects. Ecology 2022; 103:e3635. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zhong
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University Changchun Jilin China
| | - Christian Smit
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Conservation Ecology Group University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Tianyun Li
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Ling Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Valeria Aschero
- Argentine Institute for Nivology, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences, CONICET & National University of Cuyo, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n Mendoza Argentina
- Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences National University of Cuyo, Padre Jorge Contreras 1300 Mendoza Argentina
| | - Diego Vázquez
- Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences National University of Cuyo, Padre Jorge Contreras 1300 Mendoza Argentina
- Argentine Institute for Dryland Research, CONICET & National University of Cuyo, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n Mendoza Argentina
| | - Mark Ritchie
- Department of Biology Syracuse University Syracuse New York USA
| | - J. Hall Cushman
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science University of Nevada Nevada USA
| | - Deli Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education/Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Northeast Normal University Changchun China
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Xu X, Zhang Y, Li S, Chen H, Liu M, Li B, Nie M. Native herbivores indirectly facilitate the growth of invasive Spartina in a eutrophic saltmarsh. Ecology 2021; 103:e3610. [PMID: 34923622 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Current theory (e.g., consumer-controlled theory) predicts that nutrient enrichment typically amplifies herbivory and thereby suppresses the growth and expansion of invasive plants. Herbivores can facilitate plant regrowth in the native community by stimulating complementary growth or ameliorating habitat conditions (e.g., by increasing soil oxygen and nutrient availability), but whether they have similar positive effects on invasive plants, especially under nutrient enrichment, remains unknown. Using a field nitrogen (N)-enrichment X crab exclusion experiment, we evaluated and compared the effects of both N enrichment and crab herbivory on the growth performance of a global invasive cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, and a co-occurring native plant, Phragmites australis. We found that crabs consistently suppressed P. australis by decreasing density and aboveground biomass regardless of N enrichment. In contrast, for S. alterniflora, the negative effects of crabs under ambient N were replaced by positive effects under N enrichment, with crabs stimulating complementary increases in density and aboveground biomass. The differing effects between the N treatments were driven by crab burrowing activity, which increased soil N availability, and the nutrient-use efficiency of S. alterniflora. Our findings reveal that native herbivores can have opposing effects on native and invasive plants, which broadens our understanding of how exotic plants can achieve dominance in a changing world. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Songshuo Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyang Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mu Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Nie
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Li X, Wang S, Prather C, Wan HY, Zhu H, Nummi P, Inbar M, Gao Q, Wang D, Zhong Z. Large herbivores facilitate an insect herbivore by modifying plant community composition in a temperate grassland. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16314-16326. [PMID: 34824829 PMCID: PMC8601924 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Large herbivores often co-occur and share plant resources with herbivorous insects in grassland ecosystems; yet, how they interact with each other remains poorly understood. We conducted a series of field experiments to investigate whether and how large domestic herbivores (sheep; Ovis aries) may affect the abundance of a common herbivorous insect (aphid; Hyalopterus pruni) in a temperate grassland of northeast China. Our exclosure experiment showed that 3 years (2010-2012) of sheep grazing had led to 86% higher aphid abundance compared with ungrazed sites. Mechanistically, this facilitative effect was driven by grazing altering the plant community, rather than by changes in food availability and predator abundance for aphids. Sheep significantly altered plant community by reducing the abundance of unpalatable forbs for the aphids. Our small-scale forb removal experiment revealed an "associational plant defense" by forbs which protect the grass Phragmites australis from being attacked by the aphids. However, selective grazing on forbs by sheep indirectly disrupted such associational plant defense, making P. australis more susceptible to aphids, consequentially increasing the density of aphids. These findings provide a novel mechanistic explanation for the effects of large herbivores on herbivorous insects by linking selective grazing to plant community composition and the responses of insect populations in grassland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin ProvinceJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchunChina
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of EducationSongnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research StationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of EducationSongnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research StationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | | | - Ho Yi Wan
- Department of WildlifeHumboldt State UniversityArcataCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hui Zhu
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of EducationSongnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research StationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Petri Nummi
- Wetland Ecology GroupDepartment of Forest SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Moshe Inbar
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental BiologyUniversity of HaifaHaifaIsrael
| | - Qiang Gao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin ProvinceJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Deli Wang
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of EducationSongnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research StationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Zhiwei Zhong
- Institute of Grassland ScienceKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of EducationSongnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research StationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
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