Successful range-expanding plants experience less above-ground and below-ground enemy impact

TY - JOUR

T1 - Successful range-expanding plants experience less above-ground and below-ground enemy impact

AU - Engelkes, T.

AU - Morriën, W.E.

AU - Verhoeven, K.J.F.

AU - Bezemer, T.M.

AU - Biere, A.

AU - Harvey, J.A.

AU - McIntyre, L.M.

AU - Tamis, W.L.M.

AU - Van der Putten, W.H.

N1 - Reporting year: 2008 Metis note: 4450;CTE; MTI; file:///C:/pdfs/PDFS2008/Engelkes_ea_4450.pdf

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Many species are currently moving to higher latitudes and altitudes1, 2, 3. However, little is known about the factors that influence the future performance of range-expanding species in their new habitats. Here we show that range-expanding plant species from a riverine area were better defended against shoot and root enemies than were related native plant species growing in the same area. We grew fifteen plant species with and without non-coevolved polyphagous locusts and cosmopolitan, polyphagous aphids. Contrary to our expectations, the locusts performed more poorly on the range-expanding plant species than on the congeneric native plant species, whereas the aphids showed no difference. The shoot herbivores reduced the biomass of the native plants more than they did that of the congeneric range expanders. Also, the range-expanding plants developed fewer pathogenic effects4, 5 in their root-zone soil than did the related native species. Current predictions forecast biodiversity loss due to limitations in the ability of species to adjust to climate warming conditions in their range6, 7, 8. Our results strongly suggest that the plants that shift ranges towards higher latitudes and altitudes may include potential invaders, as the successful range expanders may experience less control by above-ground or below-ground enemies than the natives.

AB - Many species are currently moving to higher latitudes and altitudes1, 2, 3. However, little is known about the factors that influence the future performance of range-expanding species in their new habitats. Here we show that range-expanding plant species from a riverine area were better defended against shoot and root enemies than were related native plant species growing in the same area. We grew fifteen plant species with and without non-coevolved polyphagous locusts and cosmopolitan, polyphagous aphids. Contrary to our expectations, the locusts performed more poorly on the range-expanding plant species than on the congeneric native plant species, whereas the aphids showed no difference. The shoot herbivores reduced the biomass of the native plants more than they did that of the congeneric range expanders. Also, the range-expanding plants developed fewer pathogenic effects4, 5 in their root-zone soil than did the related native species. Current predictions forecast biodiversity loss due to limitations in the ability of species to adjust to climate warming conditions in their range6, 7, 8. Our results strongly suggest that the plants that shift ranges towards higher latitudes and altitudes may include potential invaders, as the successful range expanders may experience less control by above-ground or below-ground enemies than the natives.

U2 - 10.1038/nature07474

DO - 10.1038/nature07474

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 456

SP - 946

EP - 948

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 7224

ER -