RT Journal Article
T1 The impact of serpentine soils on plant traits and plant–herbivore interactions
A1 Moreira, Xoaquín
A1 Abdala-Roberts, Luis
A1 Vázquez-González, Carla
A1 Rúnarsdóttir, María
A1 Shiojiri, Kaori
A1 Lago-Núñez, Beatriz
A1 R. Larrinaga, Asier
A1 Covelo Núñez, Felisa
A1 Virseda, Irene
A1 Domínguez-Lapido, Paula
A1 Kark, Madeleine
A1 J. M. Tack, Ayco
A1 Karban, Richard
K1 California
K1 Insect herbivory
K1 Phenolic compounds
K1 Plant nutrients
K1 Soil heavy metals
K1 Spain
K1 Sweden
AB Serpentine soils, known for high heavy metal content and low nutrients, create harsh conditions for plants and herbivores. Although previous research has explored how serpentine soils affect herbivory, most studies have been restricted to a specific region, and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we conducted a large-scale study across 78 plant species from California, Spain, and Sweden, comparing insect herbivory and leaf traits (chemical, nutritional, and physical) in serpentine and non-serpentine habitats within each region. We also analyzed soil properties—pH, texture, nutrient content, and heavy metal concentrations—to investigate their potential role in mediating soil type effects on herbivory. Our results showed that plants growing in serpentine soils experienced lower herbivory levels and exhibited higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, lower nutrient content, and thicker leaves, compared to their non-serpentine counterparts. Additionally, elevated pH and heavy metal levels in serpentine soils were associated with reduced herbivory, increased concentrations of phenolic compounds, and decreased specific leaf area (SLA) and nitrogen content. However, no indirect link between soil properties and herbivory via leaf traits was found, suggesting that bottom-up effects of soil on plants and herbivores operate independently. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms linking plant–soil specialization and aboveground plant–herbivore interactions.
PB Wiley
SN 1939-9170, 0012-9658
YR 2025
FD 2025-07-27
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/24946
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/24946
LA en
NO Moreira, Xoaquín, Luis Abdala-Roberts, Carla Vázquez-González, María Rúnarsdóttir, Kaori Shiojiri, Beatriz Lago-Núñez, Asier R. Larrinaga, et al. 2025. “ The Impact of Serpentine Soils on Plant Traits and Plant–Herbivore Interactions.” Ecology 106(7): e70171. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70171
NO Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales
DS RIO
RD May 9, 2026