Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s00442-009-1294-0
Title (Primary) Specific bottom-up effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across a plant-herbivore-parasitoid system
Author Hempel, S.; Stein, C.; Unsicker, S.B.; Renker, C.; Auge, H. ORCID logo ; Weisser, W.W.; Buscot, F.
Source Titel Oecologia
Year 2009
Department BZF; BOOEK
Volume 160
Issue 2
Page From 267
Page To 277
Language englisch
Keywords Aphidius rhopalosiphi; Insect herbivory; Multitrophic interactions; Parasitoid performance; Rhopalosiphum padi
Abstract The majority of plants are involved in symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and these associations are known to have a strong influence on the performance of both plants and insect herbivores. Little is known about the impact of AMF on complex trophic chains, although such effects are conceivable. In a greenhouse study we examined the effects of two AMF species, Glomus intraradices and G. mosseae on trophic interactions between the grass Phleum pratense, the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi, and the parasitic wasp Aphidius rhopalosiphi. Inoculation with AMF in our study system generally enhanced plant biomass (+5.2%) and decreased aphid population growth (-47%), but there were no fungal species-specific effects. When plants were infested with G. intraradices, the rate of parasitism in aphids increased by 140% relative to the G. mosseae and control treatment. When plants were associated with AMF, the developmental time of the parasitoids decreased by 4.3% and weight at eclosion increased by 23.8%. There were no clear effects of AMF on the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in plant foliage. Our study demonstrates that the effects of AMF go beyond a simple amelioration of the plants' nutritional status and involve rather more complex species-specific cascading effects of AMF in the food chain that have a strong impact not only on the performance of plants but also on higher trophic levels, such as herbivores and parasitoids.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=251
Hempel, S., Stein, C., Unsicker, S.B., Renker, C., Auge, H., Weisser, W.W., Buscot, F. (2009):
Specific bottom-up effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across a plant-herbivore-parasitoid system
Oecologia 160 (2), 267 - 277 10.1007/s00442-009-1294-0