Complex Effects of Fertilization on Plant and Herbivore Performance in the Presence of a Plant Competitor and Activated Carbon

摘要: Plant-herbivore interactions are influenced by host plant quality which in turn is affected growth conditions. Competition the major biotic and nutrient availability a abiotic component of plant’s environment. Yet, surprisingly few studies have investigated impacts competition on herbivore performance reciprocal effects plants. We studied specialist aphid, Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria, its tansy, Tanacetum vulgare, under experimental addition inorganic organic fertilizer crossed with goldenrod, Solidago canadensis. Because evidence that goldenrod mediated allelopathic compounds, we also added treatment activated carbon. Results showed fertilization increased, decreased, biomass, but this was likely resource competition. There no from carbon allelopathy played role instead had fertilizing effect. Aphid increased higher biomass depended conditions, AC increasing, decreasing aphid numbers. Feedbacks aphids interacted conditions complex ways depending relative magnitude In basic treatment, tansy plants profited accumulating more than they lost due to an number fertilization. When adding additional fertilizer, numbers so high suffered reduced compared controls without aphids. Thus, ecological cost infestation depends balance performance. These results emphasize importance investigate both perspectives characterize their respective feedbacks.