Skip to main content
Log in

Defoliation of alders (Alnus glutinosa) affects herbivory by leaf beetles on undamaged neighbours

Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

The effects of defoliation of alder (Alnus glutinosa) on subsequent herbivory by alder leaf beetle (Agelastica alni) were studied in ten alder stands in northern Germany. At each site, one tree was manually defoliated (c. 20% of total foliage) to simulate herbivory. Subsequent damage by A. alni was assessed on ten alders at each site on six different dates from May to September 1994. After defoliation, herbivory by A. alni increased with distance from the defoliated tree. Laboratory experiments supported the field results. Not only leaf damage in the field, but also the extent of leaf consumption in laboratory feeding-preference tests and the number of eggs oviposited per leaf in another laboratory test were positively correlated with distance from the defoliated tree. Resistance was therefore induced not only in defoliated alders, but also in their undamaged neighbours. Consequently, defoliation of alders may trigger interplant resistance transfer, and therefore reduce herbivory in whole alder stands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dolch, R., Tscharntke, T. Defoliation of alders (Alnus glutinosa) affects herbivory by leaf beetles on undamaged neighbours. Oecologia 125, 504–511 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420000482

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420000482

Keywords

Navigation