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Are exotic herbivores better competitors? A meta-analysis
Ecology
|March 22, 2014
Summary
Native and exotic insects do not consistently differ in competitive outcomes. Plant-insect coevolutionary history, not native/exotic status, is key to understanding herbivore competition dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Community dynamics of phytophagous insects are structured by competition.
- Increasing biological invasions necessitate understanding native vs. exotic insect competition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if native/exotic status influences herbivore competition outcomes.
- To assess plant-mediated competition in phytophagous insects using a meta-analysis.
- To investigate the role of coevolutionary history in competitive interactions.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 160 published studies on phytophagous insect competition.
- Assessment of plant-mediated competition between native and exotic herbivores.
- Determination of herbivore native range and coevolutionary history with host plants.
Main Results:
- Plant-mediated competition is frequent, but native/exotic status did not predict competitive superiority.
- Spatial separation reduced competition for native insects; temporal separation negatively impacted natives.
- Insects with a coevolutionary history were more affected by interspecific competition.
Conclusions:
- Native/exotic status alone does not consistently predict herbivore competitive success.
- Insects lacking coevolution may gain a competitive advantage by overcoming plant defenses.
- Plant-insect coevolutionary history is a critical factor for studying insect competition.
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