Short-term seasonal habitat facilitation mediated by an insect herbivore

TY - JOUR

T1 - Short-term seasonal habitat facilitation mediated by an insect herbivore

AU - Harvey, J. A.

AU - Ode, P. J.

AU - Malčická, Mima

AU - Gols, R.

N1 - 6134, TE; Data archiving: data archived at MDA Harvey, Jeffrey A. Ode, Paul J. Malcicka, Miriama Gols, Rieta 1618-0089 <Go to ISI>://WOS:000378172100008

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - In nature some organisms may facilitate others by creating shelter or other niches that they use for variable periods. We describe a natural tnultitrophic-species complex in the Netherlands involving a plant, the common hogweed (Heracteum sphondylium) a specialist chewing herbivore, the parsnip webworm (Depressaria pastinacella) and various arthropods associated with them. Larvae of D. pastinacella feed on H..sphondylium seeds and, after they have finished feeding, chew holes in the hollow stems where they pupate. In some areas of the country almost 50% of plants are attacked by webworms. The holes are used by other arthropods to gain access to the stems including herbivores, omnivores, predators and decomposers. The duration of plant occupancy varies between 3 and 4 months, until the plants die. Plants without moth-produced holes were always free of other arthropods, whereas plants with holes, in addition to pupae (and/or mummified-parasitized webworm larvae), often contained many woodlice, earwigs and/or spiders. Earwigs and woodlice perform important ecological functions as predators (in orchards) and decomposers respectively. Our results show that the simple biological activity of one herbivore species can have at least short-term effects on the local arthropod community.

AB - In nature some organisms may facilitate others by creating shelter or other niches that they use for variable periods. We describe a natural tnultitrophic-species complex in the Netherlands involving a plant, the common hogweed (Heracteum sphondylium) a specialist chewing herbivore, the parsnip webworm (Depressaria pastinacella) and various arthropods associated with them. Larvae of D. pastinacella feed on H..sphondylium seeds and, after they have finished feeding, chew holes in the hollow stems where they pupate. In some areas of the country almost 50% of plants are attacked by webworms. The holes are used by other arthropods to gain access to the stems including herbivores, omnivores, predators and decomposers. The duration of plant occupancy varies between 3 and 4 months, until the plants die. Plants without moth-produced holes were always free of other arthropods, whereas plants with holes, in addition to pupae (and/or mummified-parasitized webworm larvae), often contained many woodlice, earwigs and/or spiders. Earwigs and woodlice perform important ecological functions as predators (in orchards) and decomposers respectively. Our results show that the simple biological activity of one herbivore species can have at least short-term effects on the local arthropod community.

KW - national

UR - http://mda.vliz.be/mda/directlink.php?fid=VLIZ_00000444_5911c7e8e24c9

U2 - 10.1016/j.baae.2016.03.005

DO - 10.1016/j.baae.2016.03.005

M3 - Article

SN - 1439-1791

VL - 17

SP - 447

EP - 454

JO - Basic and Applied Ecology

JF - Basic and Applied Ecology

IS - 5

ER -