The Effects of Climate Change on Herbivory Patterns in a Sub-alpine Meadow
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Authors
Call, Jessica
Issue Date
1998
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Levels and patterns of herbivory were measured in a sub-alpine meadow that is
being heated to simulate the conditions of global warming. In each of the 5 control and
heated plots, herbivory was measured for the forb species Helianthella quinquenervus
and Erigeron speciosus by quantifying average leaf area eaten. Herbivory levels on the
shrub Artemisia tridentata were examined through a census of aphid infestation levels.
No significant treatment effect was found for any of the three species. Mean levels of
herbivory, in terms of leaf area lost, did not exceed 20/0 for Erigeron speciosus and 40/0
for Helianthella quinquenervus. Correlations existed between the forb species' herbivory
levels and soil organic matter, N-mineralization rates and total plant species richness.
The study provides an initial characterization of herbivory patterns in the
warming meadow and indicates that the low herbivory levels observed in Helianthella
quinquenervus and Erigeron speciosus would not be an important leak to the overall
carbon budget of the warming meadow ecosystem.
Description
vi, 33 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.