Alien Plants are Less Palatable to Pest Herbivores than Native Plants: Evidence from Cafeteria Experiments in Search of Suitable Plant Species to Restore Degraded Ecosystems

Abstract Nowadays, the ecology and evolutionary potential of alien species are subjects several ecological studies. The goal this study was to compare feeding preference Arion ater on seedlings leaves native plant species. Seedlings three one were offered slugs individually in combination. Afterward, leaf discs from collected same source site slug’s habitat combination for slugs. When new emerges, it constitutes a generous food would even feed seedlings, which not particularly palatable. Nonetheless, when given choice, slug often preferentially feeds some items while ignoring others. Alien plants more resistant herbivory than plants. There is general tendency be less palatable In general, may eat wide range that much attractive mature Therefore, herbivores found attack promoted Consequently, highly unacceptable such as Eucalyptus globulus play an important role restoration process.