Authors
Andrew N Gherlenda, Kristine Y Crous, Ben D Moore, Anthony M Haigh, Scott N Johnson, Markus Riegler
Publication date
2016/2
Journal
Plant and Soil
Volume
399
Pages
29-39
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Description
Background and aims
Herbivorous insects are important nutrient cyclers that produce nutrient-rich frass. The impact of elevated atmospheric [CO2] on insect-mediated nutrient cycling, and its potential interaction with precipitation and temperature, is poorly understood and rarely quantified. We tested these climatic effects on frass deposition in a nutrient-limited mature woodland.
Methods
Frass deposition by leaf-chewing insects and its chemical composition was quantified monthly over the first 2 years at the Eucalyptus free-air CO2 enrichment experiment and contrasted with leaf nitrogen concentration, rainfall and temperature.
Results
Leaf-chewing insects produced yearly between 160 and 270 kg ha−1 of frass depositing 2 to 4 kg ha−1 of nitrogen. Frass quantity and quality were influenced by rainfall and average …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
AN Gherlenda, KY Crous, BD Moore, AM Haigh… - Plant and Soil, 2016