Herbivory can increase plant fitness via reduced interspecific competition—evidence from models and mesocosms

dc.contributor.authorBöttner, Laura
dc.contributor.authorDudenhausen, Fabio
dc.contributor.authorNouere, Sara
dc.contributor.authorMalacrinò, Antonino
dc.contributor.authorSchäfer, Martin
dc.contributor.authorKoene, Joris M.
dc.contributor.authorHuber, Meret
dc.contributor.authorXu, Shuqing
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-27T11:27:14Z
dc.date.available2025-03-27T11:27:14Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractHerbivores are generally considered to reduce plant fitness. However, as in natural communities they often feed on several competing plant species, herbivores can also increase plant fitness by reducing interspecific competition among plants. In this study, we developed a testable model to predict plant fitness in the presence of an interspecific competitor and a herbivore that feeds on both plant species. Our model allows prediction of the herbivore and competitor densities at which the focal species will benefit from herbivory. This can be estimated by quantifying the effects of the herbivore on the fitness of the focal plant and on its competitor, and by estimating the levels of intra- and interspecific competition in a pairwise fashion, respectively. We subsequently validated the model in indoor microcosms using three interacting species: an aquatic macrophyte (the giant duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza), its native competitors (green algae) and its native herbivore (the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis). Additional outdoor mesocosm experiments supported our model under natural conditions. Together, this study provides a conceptual framework to understand how herbivores shape plant fitness in a community context.en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-11825
dc.identifier.urihttps://openscience.ub.uni-mainz.de/handle/20.500.12030/11846
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCC-BY-4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject.ddc570 Biowissenschaftende
dc.subject.ddc570 Life sciencesen
dc.titleHerbivory can increase plant fitness via reduced interspecific competition—evidence from models and mesocosmsen
dc.typeZeitschriftenaufsatz
jgu.journal.titleProceedings of the Royal Society of London : Series B. Biological sciences
jgu.journal.volume292
jgu.organisation.departmentFB 10 Biologie
jgu.organisation.nameJohannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
jgu.organisation.number7970
jgu.organisation.placeMainz
jgu.organisation.rorhttps://ror.org/023b0x485
jgu.pages.alternative20241149
jgu.publisher.doi10.1098/rspb.2024.1149
jgu.publisher.issn1471-2954
jgu.publisher.nameThe Royal Society
jgu.publisher.placeLondon
jgu.publisher.year2024
jgu.rights.accessrightsopenAccess
jgu.subject.ddccode570
jgu.subject.dfgLebenswissenschaften
jgu.type.contenttypeScientific article
jgu.type.dinitypeArticleen_GB
jgu.type.resourceText
jgu.type.versionPublished version

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