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Effects of earthworms and organic litter distribution on plant performance and aphid reproduction

  • Plant Animal Interactions
  • Published:
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Abstract

Human management practices and large detritivores such as earthworms incorporate plant litter into the soil, thereby forming a heterogeneous soil environment from which plant roots extract nutrients. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated effects of earthworms and spatial distribution of 15N-labelled grass litter on plants of different functional groups [Lolium perenne (grass), Plantago lanceolata (forb), Trifolium repens (legume)]. Earthworms enhanced shoot and root growth in L. perenne and P. lanceolata and N uptake from organic litter and soil in all plant species. Litter concentrated in a patch (compared with litter mixed homogeneously into the soil) increased shoot biomass and 15N uptake from the litter in L. perenne and enhanced root proliferation in P. lanceolata when earthworms were present. Growth of clover (T. repens) was rather independent of the presence of earthworms and organic litter distribution: nevertheless, clover took up more nitrogen in the presence of earthworms and exploited more 15N from the added litter than the other plant species. The magnitude of the effects of earthworms and organic litter distribution differed between the plant species, indicating different responses of plants with contrasting root morphology. Aphid (Myzus persicae) reproduction was reduced on P. lanceolata in the presence of earthworms. We suggest that earthworm activity may indirectly alter plant chemistry and hence defence mechanisms against herbivores.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Animal Ecology group (TU Darmstadt) for their help. This study was supported in part by a grant to S. Wurst from the "Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst/Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsprogramm (HWP)".

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoologie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Susanne Wurst, Michael Bonkowski & Stefan Scheu

  2. Kompetenzzentrum Stabile Isotope, Forschungszentrum Waldökosysteme, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Reinhard Langel & August Reineking

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  1. Susanne Wurst
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  2. Reinhard Langel
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  3. August Reineking
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  4. Michael Bonkowski
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  5. Stefan Scheu
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Correspondence to Susanne Wurst.

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Wurst, S., Langel, R., Reineking, A. et al. Effects of earthworms and organic litter distribution on plant performance and aphid reproduction. Oecologia 137, 90–96 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1329-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1329-x

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