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A Case of Insect Grazing Affecting Plant Succession
Author(s) -
McBrien Heather,
Harmsen Rudolf,
Crowder Adele
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937811
Subject(s) - ecological succession , grazing , ecology , secondary succession , biology , plant community , insect , old field
The effect of phytophagous beetles on plant succession in an old—field community in southeastern Ontario was investigated over a 5—yr period. An experimental comparison of insecticide treated and untreated plots indicates that grazing by Trirhabda spp. on the goldenrod Solidago canadensis resulted in a reduction in precent cover of this species (from 40—70% to °1%), and a significant increase in percent cover of a number of earlier stage successional species.