A positive trait-mediated indirect effect involving the natural enemies of competing herbivores.

Journal article

Trait-mediated indirect effects can have important effects on food web dynamics but are still poorly understood in the field. In a previous population cage study of a small community of aphids and an aphid natural enemy it was found that a trait-mediated indirect effect involving the natural enemy's behaviour was key to understanding community persistence. Here evidence is presented that a related phenomenon involving some of the same species occurs in the field. Surveys showed that two speci...

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Authors: van Veen, F; Brandon, C; Godfray, H

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Oecologia
• Volume: 160
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 195-205
• Publication date: 2009-05-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s00442-009-1288-y
• EISSN: 1432-1939
• ISSN: 0029-8549
• Language: English
• Keywords: Demography; Animals; Ecosystem; Analysis of Variance; Population Dynamics; Aphids; Species Specificity; Food Chain; Competitive Behavior; England