Belowground Herbivores and Ecosystem Processes

Masters, Gregory J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-74004-9_5

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Here, we demonstrate that nonadditive effects of above-and belowground herbivory on plant productivity appear following N addition. Aboveground insect herbivory can increase plant biomass production by accelerating N cycling (Belovsky and Slade 2000), and belowground herbivory may similarly stimulate nutrient turnover in the soil (Masters 2004). Consequently, our results might be due to a synergistic acceleration of shoot biomass production caused by multiple fertilizing factors when the two herbivory treatments were combined at elevated N.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Above‐ and belowground insect herbivory modifies the response of a grassland plant community to nitrogen eutrophication

Borgström

Strengbom

Marini

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Understanding the role that species interactions play in determining the rate and direction of ecosystem change due to nitrogen (N) eutrophication is important for predicting the consequences of global change. Insects might play a major role in this context. They consume substantial amounts of plant biomass and can alter competitive interactions among plants, indirectly shaping plant community composition. Nitrogen eutrophication affects plant communities globally, but there is limited experimental evidence of how insect herbivory modifies plant community response to raised N levels. Even less is known about the roles of above- and belowground herbivory in shaping plant communities, and how the interaction between the two might modify a plant community's response to N eutrophication. We conducted a 3-yr field experiment where grassland plant communities were subjected to above- and belowground insect herbivory with and without N addition, in a full-factorial design. We found that herbivory modified plant community responses to N addition. Aboveground herbivory decreased aboveground plant community biomass by 21%, but only at elevated N. When combined, above- and belowground herbivory had a stronger negative effect on plant community biomass at ambient N (11% decrease) than at elevated N (4% decrease). In addition, herbivory shifted the functional composition of the plant community, and the magnitude of the shifts depended on the N level. The N and herbivory treatments synergistically conferred a competitive advantage to forbs, which benefited when both herbivory types were present at elevated N. Evenness among the plant species groups increased when aboveground herbivory was present, but N addition attenuated this increase. Our results demonstrate that a deeper understanding of how plant-herbivore interactions above and below ground shape the composition of a plant community is crucial for making reliable predictions about the ecological consequences of global change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Above‐ and belowground insect herbivory modifies the response of a grassland plant community to nitrogen eutrophication

Borgström

Strengbom

Marini

et al. 2017

Ecology

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“…This is probably a result of the high humidity rates presented in the forest due to greater vegetation and rainfall, in turn creating a better relationship between the system and the microorganisms. On the other hand, Masters (2008) argues that the changes in the minimum humidity conditions of the soil bring, as consequence, lower availability of residues, affecting some taxa that normally require permanent moisture, as is the case with Oligochaeta or earthworm.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrofauna evaluation in two coffee agroforestry systems

Navia

Gualmatan²,

Burbano

2021

rcia

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Knowing the soil macrofauna and its distribution is important to predict the degradation state of a soil as well as its physical properties and biological components. This research was carried out in coffee ecotopes 220A and 221A in southern Colombia. Two systems were evaluated, Coffea arabica var Castillo and native forest coffee, during two different seasons, winter and summer. Sampling was carried out using the tropical soil biology and fertility program (TSBF) methodology. The statistical treatment was carried out by means of a non-parametric analysis of variance Kruskal-Wall test. The density of orders present per square meter was evaluated, demonstrating that the highest density occurred in the winter season in the ecotope 220A and 221A forest system, with averages of 9.33 orders/ m2 and 9.67 orders/ m2, respectively. The highest number of density of individuals was obtained in winter, in the forest system and coffee in the 220A and 221A ecotopes with averages ranging between 1808 individuals/ m2 and 1368 individuals/ m2, statistically exceeding the number of individuals/ m2 that appeared in summer season. For biomass, the highest contribution was obtained in the winter season, with averages of 186.5 grams/ m2 in the 220A ecotope and 205.74 grams/ m2 for the 221A ecotope, exceeding the biomass that was presented in coffee winter season time, both in the 220A and 221A ecotopes.

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“…Root-feeding herbivores can also have large effects on plants and ecosystems, although our understanding of the importance of this phenomenon is hindered by the paucity of studies of root herbivory compared with aboveground herbivory (Blossey and Hunt-Joshi 2003, Hunter 2001, Masters 2004. Root feeders come from a variety of taxonomic groups but are especially well represented in the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Nematoda.…”

Section: Belowground Diseases and Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Root feeders come from a variety of taxonomic groups but are especially well represented in the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Nematoda. Effects of these herbivores can be seen in altered root demography (Stevens et al 2002, Wells et al 2002, plant growth and seed production, root:shoot ratios, nutrient status (Masters 2004), multitrophic interactions, (Masters 2004, Van der Putten et al 2001, and plant community structure (Gange and Brown 2002). One indication of the importance of root-feeding herbivores is found in the literature on classical biological control.…”

Section: Belowground Diseases and Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

A dynamic invasive species research vision: Opportunities and priorities 2009-29

Dix¹,

Britton²

2010

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Belowground Herbivores and Ecosystem Processes

Cited by 9 publications

References 49 publications

Above‐ and belowground insect herbivory modifies the response of a grassland plant community to nitrogen eutrophication

Above‐ and belowground insect herbivory modifies the response of a grassland plant community to nitrogen eutrophication

Macrofauna evaluation in two coffee agroforestry systems

A dynamic invasive species research vision: Opportunities and priorities 2009-29

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