Abstract
The realized host range of herbivores is expected to increase with herbivore population density. Theory also predicts that trait similarity and phylogenetic relatedness between native and exotic plants is expected to increase the susceptibility of introduced plants to feeding by native herbivores. Whether the ability of native herbivores to extend their host range to introduced species is density dependent is still unknown. We addressed this question by monitoring pine processionary moth (PPM, Thaumetopoea pityocampa) attacks during nine consecutive years on 41 pine species (8 native and 33 introduced) planted in an arboretum. The survey encompassed latent and outbreak periods. A total of 28 pine species were attacked by PPM. There was no difference in the probability of attack between native and introduced pine species. Host range increased and was more phylogenetically clustered during outbreak than latent periods. When population density increased, PPM expanded its diet breadth by attacking introduced pine species that were closely related to native hosts. This study demonstrates the density dependence of host range expansion in a common pine herbivore. Importantly, it supports the idea that the degree of phylogenetic proximity between host species can be a better predictor of attacks than the introduction status, which may help to predict the outcomes of new plant–herbivore interactions.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Manuela Branco for providing important ideas and must-read papers. We also thank Ian S. Pearse and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on original version of the present manuscript. Original analyses were done by Colleen Carlson and EB. Contributions by EB were supported by MBIE core funding to Scion and the Better Border Biosecurity collaboration (http://www.b3nz.org).
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Data used in this study are uploaded as supplementary material (SM2 and SM3). SM2 corresponds to raw data. SM3 is the phylogenetic tree (Newick format) of pine species planted in Arboretum National des Barres.
Author contribution statement
DP, EB and HJ developed the original idea. SD and ML provided the phylogenetic tree. DP and NP collected data. BC analysed the data and drafted the first version of the MS. All authors provided comments and contributed to the final version.
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Communicated by Raphael Didham.
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Castagneyrol, B., Jactel, H., Brockerhoff, E.G. et al. Host range expansion is density dependent. Oecologia 182, 779–788 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-016-3711-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-016-3711-5