Effects of decomposers and herbivores on plant performance and aboveground plant-insect interactions

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 108; no. 3; pp. 503 - 510
• Main Authors: Poveda, Katja, Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf, Scheu, Stefan, Tscharntke, Teja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Munksgaard International Publishers 01.03.2005; Blackwell Publishers; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Earthworms; Ecology; Flowering; Flowers; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Herbivores; Herbivory; Insects; Leaves; Orchard soils; Plant growth; Plant insect relations; Plant interaction; Plant roots; Plants; Pollinators; Sinapis arvensis; Trophic chain; Plant; Phytophagous; Herbivorous; Trophic level; Animal plant relation; Decomposer; Decomposition; Performance; Interspecific relation

Most ecologists acknowledge that plants are subject to complex interactions between both below- and aboveground dwelling animals. However, these complex interactions are seldomly investigated simultaneously. In a factorial common garden experiment we tested single and combined effects of decomposers...