RT Journal Article
T1 Insect herbivory and leaf defensive traits in native and non-native populations of an endemic plant in a Macaronesian archipelago
A1 Moreira, Xoaquín
A1 Cubas, Jonay
A1 Caujap´e-Castells, Juli
A1 Vázquez-González, Carla
A1 Garcia, Gresheen
A1 Lago-Núnez, Beatriz
A1 Covelo Núñez, Felisa
A1 Barranco-Reyes, Jesús
A1 López-Chicheri Yriarte, Alejandra
A1 Maldonado-Gallego, Cristina
A1 Abdala-Roberts, Luis
K1 Biological invasions
K1 Canary Islands
K1 Endemic plants
K1 Herbivory
K1 Nutrients
K1 Phenolics
K1 Plant invasions
K1 Rumex lunaria
K1 Specific leaf area
AB The spread of island endemic plants to new islands is an emerging topic, yet the mechanisms driving such invasions remain unclear. While herbivory-related explanations are common for widespread species, their relevance to island endemics is uncertain. Enemy release suggests that introduced plants face less herbivory and invest less in defence, unlike at their native sites with specialized herbivores. Conversely, low defences from minimal native herbivory could make them vulnerable to generalist herbivores in new locations. Additionally, abiotic factors—such as soil type or climate—may influence plant traits and herbivore interactions, potentially overriding or complicating expected herbivory-based invasion outcomes. Here we compared in situ levels of insect leaf herbivory and leaf chemical, physical, and nutritional traits for Rumex lunaria across islands of the Canary Archipelago to which this species is endemic. Specifically, we sampled populations found on islands where this species is native (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro) and compared them to invasive (non-native) populations found on Lanzarote. Contrary to predictions, R. lunaria found on Lanzarote (i. e., non-native populations) exhibited higher levels of herbivory but also higher defensive traits—specifically, thicker leaves and higher concentrations of phenolic compounds—compared to populations on islands where this species is native to. To explore underlying correlates to these patterns, we conducted a follow-up structural equation model testing whether abiotic variation between native and non-native populations contributes to explain differences in leaf traits and herbivory. While non-native populations were associated with distinct abiotic conditions relative to native ones—including higher temperatures, reduced and more seasonal precipitation,and denser, more alkaline soils—this did not account for observed differences in leaf traits or herbivory between native vs. non-native populations. Accordingly, these findings suggest that the divergence in leaf defences and herbivory between native and non-native R. lunaria populations is not attributable to the abiotic factors analysed.
PB Elsevier
YR 2025
FD 2025-06-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/24952
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/24952
LA en
NO Xoaquín Moreira, Jonay Cubas, Juli Caujapé-Castells, Carla Vázquez-González, Gresheen Garcia, Beatriz Lago-Núñez, Felisa Covelo, Jesús Barranco-Reyes, Alejandra López-Chicheri Yriarte, Cristina Maldonado-Gallego, Luis Abdala-Roberts, Insect herbivory and leaf defensive traits in native and non-native populations of an endemic plant in a Macaronesian archipelago, Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, Volume 68, 2025, 125886, ISSN 1433-8319, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125886
NO Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales
DS RIO
RD May 9, 2026