Neighborhood diversity simultaneously increased and decreased susceptibility to contrasting herbivores in an early stage forest diversity experiment

摘要: Forest structure and diversity can regulate tree vulnerability to damage by insects pathogens. Past work suggests that trees with diverse neighbours should experience less leaf herbivory from specialist herbivores diseases, the effect of neighbourhood be strongest at small spatial scales. In an early stage temperate experiment, we monitored removing herbivores, (gallers miners) two fungal diseases (maple anthracnose cedar apple gall rust) over 3 years. The experimental design included treatments varied independently in phylogenetic functional made our analyses across four scales (1–16 m²). Neighborhood simultaneously increased removal for some species, decreased it others, had no on yet others. Height apparency—the difference between a focal plant’s height its neighbours’—was best single predictor species scales, but strength direction were also species‐specific. Specialist pathogens foliar showed signs associational resistance susceptibility. Oaks (Quercus spp.) more resistant miners maples when surrounded (associational resistance). contrast, birches (Betula papyrifera) susceptible eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi‐virginianae) infection environments susceptibility). Herbivore pathogen was better predicted community (1 4 m²) than large (9 16 m²), suggesting characteristic scale these biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning effects. Synthesis. Humans control forest through selective harvesting planting natural stands plantations. Our demonstration role local suppressing forms pest management most effective is considered underlying biology particular pests, pathogens, hosts taken into account. Pictured here: “galls” formed juniperae‐virginiae) spring release wind‐dispersed teleospores. Junipers susceptibility: greater susceptibility neighbours.