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Non-native plant invader renders suitable habitat unsuitable

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Abstract

Coevolution between insect herbivores and their target plants often prompts an evolutionary arms race so that insects develop methods to overcome plant defenses. In doing so, some insects become specialized on host plants so that suitable habitat for these herbivorous insects may be demarcated by coevolved plant species. Non-native plant species may render suitable habitat unsuitable by replacing palatable native species with novel defenses that deter native herbivores. We investigated these dynamics in an urban forest heavily invaded by a non-native shrub (Rhamnus cathartica). We experimentally introduced native trees into a non-native dominated urban forest and found significantly higher Lepidoptera larvae abundance and diversity, and overall herbivory, on the native than non-native species. Hence, we rendered unsuitable habitat suitable by providing a key biotic niche requirement: palatable plants. These results suggest that non-native plants may simplify ecological systems by eliminating critical niche requirements for native species.

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Acknowledgments

Support for this research was provided by the SUNY Buffalo State Office of Undergraduate Research. The New York State Power Authority provided support for invasive species control and native tree planting at Tifft Nature Preserve through a grant from the Niagara River Greenway Ecological Standing Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, SUNY Buffalo State, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, USA

    L. Grunzweig, A. Labatore & R. J. Warren II

  2. Tifft Nature Preserve, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY, USA

    D. J. Spiering

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  1. L. Grunzweig
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  2. D. J. Spiering
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  3. A. Labatore
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  4. R. J. Warren II
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Correspondence to R. J. Warren II.

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Handling Editors: Jeffrey Harvey and Heikki Hokkanen.

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Grunzweig, L., Spiering, D.J., Labatore, A. et al. Non-native plant invader renders suitable habitat unsuitable. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9, 577–583 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-015-9402-z

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