Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Dangles Olivier, Herrera M., Anthelme Fabien. (2013). Experimental support of the stress-gradient hypothesis in herbivore-herbivore interactions. New Phytologist, 197 (2), p. 405-408. ISSN 0028-646X.

Titre du document
Experimental support of the stress-gradient hypothesis in herbivore-herbivore interactions
Année de publication
2013
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000313265600011
Auteurs
Dangles Olivier, Herrera M., Anthelme Fabien
Source
New Phytologist, 2013, 197 (2), p. 405-408 ISSN 0028-646X
The stress-gradient hypothesis (SGH) postulates an increase in the frequency of positive species interactions at increasing amounts of stress. While the SGH has been extensively tested in plant-plant interactions along abiotic stresses, it remains unclear whether this hypothesis could apply to higher trophic levels, such as herbivores, along biotic stress gradients. To address this issue, we investigated how the interaction between two potato herbivores may change along a stress gradient created by an assortment of potato varieties with different tuber palatability. We used a tuber resistance trait as a measure for biotic stress and one herbivore as the facilitator to gain access to the tuber of the other herbivore. Our experiment revealed a switch from neutral to positive interactions with increasing stress, confirming for the first time the predictions of the SGH for herbivores. Moreover, the intensity of facilitation decreased at high stress levels, suggesting that benefits by the facilitating species were dampened in the most stressful environment. In view of the ubiquitous role played by positive interactions among herbivores, broadening our search image for facilitative effects among other plant enemies will allow a better awareness of the importance of the SGH in structuring plant communities.
Plan de classement
Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010058873]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010058873
Contact