Multiple components of plant diversity loss determine herbivore phylogenetic diversity in a subtropical forest experiment

Abstract

1. Plant diversity loss can alter higher trophic-level communities via non-random species interactions, which in turn may cascade to affect key ecosystem functions. These non-random linkages might be best captured by patterns of phylogenetic diversity, which take into account co-evolutionary dependencies. However, lack of adequate phylogenetic data of higher trophic levels hampers our mechanistic understanding of biodiversity relationships in species-rich ecosystems.2. We used DNA barcoding to generate data on the phylogenetic diversity of lepidopteran caterpillars in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China. We analysed how different metrics of lepidopteran phylogenetic diversity (Faith's PD, MPD, MNTD) and taxonomic diversity were influenced by multiple components of tree diversity (taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic). 3. Our data from six sampling periods represent 7,204 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of lepidopteran larvae, clustered into 461 molecular operational taxonomic units. Lepidopteran abundance, the effective number of species (irrespective of the focus on rare or common species) and Faith's PD and MPD (reflecting basal evolutionary splits), but not MNTD (reflecting recent evolutionary splits), significantly increased with experimentally manipulated | 2709 Journal of Ecology WANG et Al.

The phylogeny of insects in the data‐driven era

“…This lack of attention to backbone‐constrained tree searching occurs despite its apparent utility in integrating diverse data types and its ability to scale phylogenies and to increase information content in fields such as phylogenetic community ecology and metabarcoding (e.g. Liu et al ., ; Wang et al ., ). Here, I developed constraint methodology further for species‐comprehensive matrices with partial overlap to backbone trees, now with clearer delineation of functions which gives more flexibility in the implementation of constraints, depending on considerations such as scale, approach to constraint application, and software used.…”

Tree phylogenetic diversity structures multitrophic communities

“…In addition to functional consequences via biotic niche opportunities, woody plant PD may at evolutionary time‐scales have influenced speciation of associated organisms, at least for herbivores (Ehrlich & Raven, 1964). Past co‐speciation between plants and herbivores can result in a phylogenetic signal in herbivore composition and diversity that is independent of niche overlap and resource availability (Becerra, 2015; Pellissier et al, 2013; Wang et al., 2019). Due to their central roles in food webs, herbivores can affect predators, and thus through trophic cascades other trophic levels that are unlikely to have co‐speciated with plants.…”

“…Cadotte et al., 2009). For example, it was recently shown that tree PD but not SR explained the ecosystem function parasitism (Staab et al., 2016) and the response of caterpillar communities to changes in host tree diversity (Wang et al., 2019). Additionally, if niche differences among plants enlarge overall biotic niche amplitudes (Figure 1), PD may also increase associated species abundances by allowing higher densities of individuals via higher resource amount (‘more individuals hypothesis’, Srivastava & Lawton, 1998).…”

Plant genotypic diversity effects on soil nematodes vary with trophic level

“…Conversely, even slight changes in taxonomic measures may cause pronounced changes in the functions of ecological communities (Flynn et al ., 2009). Therefore, incorporating a wider range of metrics, including both taxonomic and functional aspects, would help to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the functional consequences of biodiversity losses (Ebeling et al ., 2018; Wang et al ., 2019).…”