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Differences between resource patches modify root herbivore effects on plants

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Abstract

While soil resource heterogeneity and root herbivory can have significant direct influences on plant growth, soil heterogeneity may also have indirect effects by influencing the foraging behavior of root herbivores. We used sand-filled greenhouse pots to assess root herbivore foraging behavior and potential interactions between patch quality, herbivore foraging, and plant biomass production (yield). Individual pots were divided into four quarters: one fertilized, and three unfertilized, two of which were planted with tree seedlings. Two treatments were used to create fertilized quarters: high-organic manure fertilizer, and slow-release mineral fertilizer. Seedlings of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana L.) were used to create two single-species and one mixed-species treatments. Root-feeding beetle larvae were added to the pots and allowed to forage freely for ∼8 weeks. At harvest, root herbivores in organic-fertilized pots were strongly attracted to fertilized quarters despite their relatively low-root biomass. Herbivore distribution was significantly different in mineral fertilized pots, where larvae were most abundant in planted quarters, which is also where most of the plant roots occurred. Whole pot plant yield was significantly reduced by larvae; this effect was stronger in the mineral fertilized pots than organic fertilized pots. While one of the plant species appeared more sensitive to herbivory, root herbivores had a greater influence on yield in mixed-species pots than in single-species pots. Overall, these results suggest that patch quality influences on herbivore foraging may indirectly alter yield and plant community composition.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Sean Moore, Ben Templeton, Abigail Vitale, Roo Vandegrift, and Debbie Wiley for greenhouse and laboratory assistance. Ed Lewis and three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on the manuscript. Funding for this project was provided by National Science Foundation Grant DEB-0308847, the Virginia Tech Graduate Student Assembly, and the Virginia Tech Department of Biological Sciences.

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  1. Glen N. Stevens

    Present address: Department of Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Glen N. Stevens, Dustin R. Pierson, Kim Nguyen & Robert H. Jones

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  1. Glen N. Stevens
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  2. Dustin R. Pierson
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  3. Kim Nguyen
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  4. Robert H. Jones
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Correspondence to Glen N. Stevens.

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Responsible Editor: Angela Hodge.

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Stevens, G.N., Pierson, D.R., Nguyen, K. et al. Differences between resource patches modify root herbivore effects on plants. Plant Soil 296, 235–246 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9313-6

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