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Robustness of plant–insect herbivore interaction networks to climate change in a fragmented temperate forest landscape

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2017

K.W. Bähner ,
K.A. Zweig ,
I.R. Leal  and
R. Wirth
K.W. Bähner
Affiliation:
Plant Ecology and Systematics, University of Kaiserslautern, P.O. Box 3049, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
K.A. Zweig
Affiliation:
Graph Theory & Complex Network Analysis, University of Kaiserslautern, P.O. Box 3049, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
I.R. Leal
Affiliation:
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, 50670-901, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
R. Wirth*
Affiliation:
Plant Ecology and Systematics, University of Kaiserslautern, P.O. Box 3049, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +49 631 205 4401 Fax: +49 631 205 2998 E-mail: wirth@rhrk.uni-kl.de
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Abstract

Forest fragmentation and climate change are among the most severe and pervasive forms of human impact. Yet, their combined effects on plant–insect herbivore interaction networks, essential components of forest ecosystems with respect to biodiversity and functioning, are still poorly investigated, particularly in temperate forests. We addressed this issue by analysing plant-insect herbivore networks (PIHNs) from understories of three managed beech forest habitats: small forest fragments (2.2–145 ha), forest edges and forest interior areas within three continuous control forests (1050–5600 ha) in an old hyper-fragmented forest landscape in SW Germany. We assessed the impact of forest fragmentation, particularly edge effects, on PIHNs and the resulting differences in robustness against climate change by habitat-wise comparison of network topology and biologically realistic extinction cascades of networks following scores of vulnerability to climate change for the food plant species involved. Both the topological network metrics (complexity, nestedness, trophic niche redundancy) and robustness to climate change strongly increased in forest edges and fragments as opposed to the managed forest interior. The nature of the changes indicates that human impacts modify network structure mainly via host plant availability to insect herbivores. Improved robustness of PIHNs in forest edges/small fragments to climate-driven extinction cascades was attributable to an overall higher thermotolerance across plant communities, along with positive effects of network structure. The impoverishment of PIHNs in managed forest interiors and the suggested loss of insect diversity from climate-induced co-extinction highlight the need for further research efforts focusing on adequate silvicultural and conservation approaches.

Keywords

ecosystem stabilityedge effectsextinction cascadesfood web resilienceglobal changephytophagous insects
Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 107 , Issue 5 , October 2017 , pp. 563 - 572
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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