Summer drought alters plant-mediated competition between foliar- and root-feeding insects

Staley, J. T., Mortimer, S. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6160-6741, Morecroft, M. D., Brown, V. K. and Masters, G. J. (2007) Summer drought alters plant-mediated competition between foliar- and root-feeding insects. Global Change Biology, 13 (4). pp. 866-877. ISSN 1354-1013 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01338.x

Abstract/Summary

Summer droughts are predicted to increase in severity and frequency in the United Kingdom, due to climate change. Few studies have addressed the impacts of drought on interactions between species, and the majority have focussed on increases in CO2 concentration and changes in temperature. Here, the effect of experimental summer drought on the strength of the plant-mediated interaction between leaf-mining Stephensia brunnichella larvae and root-chewing Agriotes larvae was investigated. Agriotes larvae reduced the abundance and performance of S. brunnichella feeding on a mutual host plant, Clinopodium vulgare, as well as the rate of parasitism of the leaf-miner. The interaction did not, however, occur on plants subjected to a severe drought treatment, which were reduced in size. Changes to summer rainfall, due to climate change, may therefore reduce the occurrence of plant-mediated interactions between insect herbivores.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/9210
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	aboveground, belowground, drought, experimental manipulation, foliar, feeder, indirect competition, leaf-miner, parasitoid, root feeder, wireworm, BELOW-GROUND HERBIVORY, HOST-PLANT, CLIMATE-CHANGE, LEAF DAMAGE, COMMUNITY DYNAMICS, PERFORMANCE, CO2, PARASITOIDS, GRASSLAND, RESPONSES
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