Global Study of Plant-Herbivore Interactions Reveals Similar Patterns of Herbivory Across Native and Non-Native Plants

Abstract

A core hypothesis in invasion and community ecology is that species interaction patterns should differ between native and non-native species due to non-native species lacking a long evolutionary history in their resident communities. Numerous studies testing this hypothesis yield conflicting results, often focusing on mean interaction rates and overlooking the substantial within-population variability in species interactions. We explored plant-herbivore interactions in populations of native and established non-native plant species by quantifying differences in mean herbivory and added a novel approach by comparing within-population variability in herbivory. We include as covariates latitude, plant richness, plant growth form and cover. Using leaf herbivory data from the Herbivory Variability Network for 788 plant populations spanning 504 species globally distributed, we found no overall differences in mean herbivory or variability between native and non-native plants. These results suggest native and established non-native plants interact similarly with herbivores, indicating non-native status is not a strong predictor of ecological roles.