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Nature 456, 946-948 (18 December 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature07474; Received 7 December 2007; Accepted 25 September 2008; Published online 19 November 2008

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Successful range-expanding plants experience less above-ground and below-ground enemy impact

Tim Engelkes1, Elly Morriën1, Koen J. F. Verhoeven1, T. Martijn Bezemer1,2, Arjen Biere1, Jeffrey A. Harvey1, Lauren M. McIntyre3, Wil L. M. Tamis4 & Wim H. van der Putten1,2

  1. Department of Multitrophic Interactions, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), PO Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands
  2. Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 8123, 6700 ES Wageningen, The Netherlands
  3. Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-1399, USA
  4. Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden University Branch, PO Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Wim H. van der Putten1,2 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to W.H.v.d.P. (Email: w.vanderputten@nioo.knaw.nl).

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Many species are currently moving to higher latitudes and altitudes1, 2, 3. However, little is known about the factors that influence the future performance of range-expanding species in their new habitats. Here we show that range-expanding plant species from a riverine area were better defended against shoot and root enemies than were related native plant species growing in the same area. We grew fifteen plant species with and without non-coevolved polyphagous locusts and cosmopolitan, polyphagous aphids. Contrary to our expectations, the locusts performed more poorly on the range-expanding plant species than on the congeneric native plant species, whereas the aphids showed no difference. The shoot herbivores reduced the biomass of the native plants more than they did that of the congeneric range expanders. Also, the range-expanding plants developed fewer pathogenic effects4, 5 in their root-zone soil than did the related native species. Current predictions forecast biodiversity loss due to limitations in the ability of species to adjust to climate warming conditions in their range6, 7, 8. Our results strongly suggest that the plants that shift ranges towards higher latitudes and altitudes may include potential invaders, as the successful range expanders may experience less control by above-ground or below-ground enemies than the natives.

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