University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Reduced herbivory on exotic buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) compared to native tree species in an Illinois woodland

Grady, Kevin C.; Henneghan, Liam; Jabon, David

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/79047

Description

Title
Reduced herbivory on exotic buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) compared to native tree species in an Illinois woodland
Author(s)
  • Grady, Kevin C.
  • Henneghan, Liam
  • Jabon, David
Contributor(s)
Warwick, Charles
Issue Date
2012-07
Keyword(s)
  • Invasive plants
  • Rhamnus cathartica
  • Plant-herbivore interactions
Geographic Coverage
northeastern Illinois
Abstract
European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), an ornamental and fencerow shrub native to Eurasia, is a prolific invader throughout woodlands of the northeastern and midwestern United States and southern Canada. The spread of R. cathartica may result in the replacement of native species and the alteration of ecosystem processes. We present evidence of a potential mechanism underlying the success of R. cathartica release from herbivore pressures. We compared levels of foliar herbivory between R. cathartica and eight co-occurring native tree species in northeastern Illinois: sugar maple (Acer saccharum), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), black cherry (Prunus serotina), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), red oak (Quercus rubrum), basswood (Tilia americana) and witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Herbivory on native species (ranging from 4.0% to 6.8% of leaf area consumed) was five to nine times higher than on Rhamnus cathartica (0.8%). These results, combined with studies documenting the evident herbivory in the native range of R. cathartica, suggest that exotic North American populations have experienced a release from herbivore pressure.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Series/Report Name or Number
Biological notes ; no. 143
ISSN
0073-490X
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/79047
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2012. University of Illinois Board of Trustees. All rights reserved.

Owning Collections

Biological Notes - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Biological Notes present INHS research findings in a shorter and less technical form than the Bulletin