Genetic and Ontogenetic Variation in an Endangered Tree Structures Dependent Arthropod and Fungal Communities

Abstract

Plant genetic and ontogenetic variation can significantly impact dependent fungal and arthropod communities. However, little is known of the relative importance of these extended genetic and ontogenetic effects within a species. Using a common garden trial, we compared the dependent arthropod and fungal community on 222 progeny from two highly differentiated populations of the endangered heteroblastic tree species, Eucalyptus morrisbyi. We assessed arthropod and fungal communities on both juvenile and adult foliage. The community variation was related to previous levels of marsupial browsing, as well as the variation in the physicochemical properties of leaves using near-infrared spectroscopy. We found highly significant differences in community composition, abundance and diversity parameters between eucalypt source populations in the common garden, and these were comparable to differences between the distinctive juvenile and adult foliage. The physicochemical properties assessed accounted for a significant percentage of the community variation but did not explain fully the community differences between populations and foliage types. Similarly, while differences in population susceptibility to a major marsupial herbivore may result in diffuse genetic effects on the dependent community, this still did not account for the large genetic-based differences in dependent communities between populations. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining the populations of this rare species as separate management units, as not only are the populations highly genetically structured, this variation may alter the trajectory of biotic colonization of conservation plantings.

Root traits explain rhizosphere fungal community composition among temperate grassland plant species

“…(2018) examined trait–microbial relationships formed over several growing seasons, whereas the plants in this study were comparatively young. Fungal communities are known to vary both temporally (Hannula et al ., 2019; Kivlin & Hawkes, 2020) and with ontogeny (Gosney et al ., 2014). Therefore, further study is required to monitor how seasonal, temporal and ontogenic variation affects the trait–fungal relationships detected here.…”

Linking plant genes to insect communities: Identifying the genetic bases of plant traits and community composition

“…Genetic variation in expression of key plant traits is influenced by both plant ontogeny and environmental context (Lindroth & St. Clair, 2013). Future work should address how plant genetic contributions to insect community organization may shift across plant ontogenetic trajectories (Gosney et al, 2014;Holeski, Hillstrom, Whitham, & Lindroth, 2012) and environmental gradients (Burkle, Souza, Genung, & Crutsinger, 2013).…”

Host susceptibility to Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of Eucalyptus species

“…The level of defoliation caused by G. platensis feeding by both adults and larvae was evaluated after spring feeding (between July and November in 2012, 2013, and 2014 in the Arouca and Pampilhosa trials. The snout beetle was not detected in Carregal in any year.…”

“…Because some of the eucalypt species tested are heteroblastic, i.e. they produce juvenile foliage early in their development, which is replaced by morphologically and physiologically distinct adult foliage (Gosney et al 2014;Steinbauer 2002), the presence of juvenile foliage in the upper third of the crown was recorded for each tree in 2012 and 2013. Trees were classified as having fully transitioned to adult foliage or as retaining juvenile foliage (totally or partially).…”

“…Furthermore, during the course of field evaluations, Eucalyptus species in series Globulares were shifting to adult foliage. Differences in the response of herbivorous insects to juvenile and adult leaves within Eucalyptus species are widely recognized (Gosney et al 2014;Steinbauer 2002). Gonipterus species in particular have been shown to display strong preference for expanding and newly expanded adult leaves (Branco et al 2016;Loch 2006;Tooke 1955).…”