Are exotic herbivores better competitors? A meta-analysis.
نویسندگان
چکیده
Competition plays an important role in structuring the community dynamics of phytophagous insects. As the number and impact of biological invasions increase, it has become increasingly important to determine whether competitive differences exist between native and exotic insects. We conducted a meta-analysis to test the hypothesis that native/ exotic status affects the outcome of herbivore competition. Specifically, we used data from 160 published studies to assess plant-mediated competition in phytophagous insects. For each pair of competing herbivores, we determined the native range and coevolutionary history of each herbivore and host plant. Plant-mediated competition occurred frequently, but neither native nor exotic insects were consistently better competitors. Spatial separation reduced competition in native insects but showed little effect on exotics. Temporal separation negatively impacted native insects but did not affect competition in exotics. Insects that coevolved with their host plant were more affected by interspecific competition than herbivores that lacked a coevolutionary history. Insects that have not coevolved with their host plant may be at a competitive advantage if they overcome plant defenses. As native/exotic status does not consistently predict outcomes of competitive interactions, plant-insect coevolutionary history should be considered in studies of competition.
منابع مشابه
Opposing effects of native and exotic herbivores on plant invasions.
Exotic species are widely assumed to thrive because they lack natural enemies in their new ranges. However, a meta-analysis of 63 manipulative field studies including more than 100 exotic plant species revealed that native herbivores suppressed exotic plants, whereas exotic herbivores facilitated both the abundance and species richness of exotic plants. Both outcomes suggest that plants are esp...
متن کاملCoexistence between native and exotic species is facilitated by asymmetries in competitive ability and susceptibility to herbivores.
Differences between native and exotic species in competitive ability and susceptibility to herbivores are hypothesized to facilitate coexistence. However, little fieldwork has been conducted to determine whether these differences are present in invaded communities. Here, we experimentally examined whether asymmetries exist between native and exotic plants in a community invaded for over 200 yea...
متن کاملComment on "Opposing effects of native and exotic herbivores on plant invasions".
Parker et al. (Reports, 10 March 2006, p. 1459) showed that native herbivores suppress exotic plants more than native plants. Further analysis reveals that the effect of native herbivores is reduced on exotic plant species that are closely related to native species in the invaded region. Exotic plants may share traits with native congeners that confer similar resistance to resident herbivores.
متن کاملDoes Plant Origin Influence the Fitness Impact of Flower Damage? A Meta-Analysis
Herbivory has been long considered an important component of plant-animal interactions that influences the success of invasive species in novel habitats. One of the most important hypotheses linking herbivory and invasion processes is the enemy-release hypothesis, in which exotic plants are hypothesized to suffer less herbivory and fitness-costs in their novel ranges as they leave behind their ...
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Upon their introduction to new environments, plants may become invasive and suppress native plant species (Gurevitch et al., 2011). Plant-herbivore interactions play an important role in invasion success of an exotic plant. In the introduced ranges, exotic plants are believed to be largely free from specialist herbivore pressure, a hypothesis known as the enemy release hypothesis (ERH; Keane an...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Ecology
دوره 95 1 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2014