title: Oak tree canker disease supports arthropod diversity in a natural ecosystem.
abstract: Microorganisms have many roles in nature. They may act as decomposers that obtain nutrients from dead materials, while some are pathogens that cause diseases in animals, insects, and plants. Some are symbionts that enhance plant growth, such as arbuscular mycorrhizae and nitrogen fixation bacteria. However, roles of plant pathogens and diseases in natural ecosystems are still poorly understood. Thus, the current study addressed this deficiency by investigating possible roles of plant diseases in natural ecosystems, particularly, their positive effects on arthropod diversity. In this study, the model system was the oak tree (Quercus spp.) and the canker disease caused by Annulohypoxylon truncatum, and its effects on arthropod diversity. The oak tree site contained 44 oak trees; 31 had canker disease symptoms while 13 were disease-free. A total of 370 individual arthropods were detected at the site during the survey period. The arthropods belonged to 25 species, 17 families, and seven orders. Interestingly, the cankered trees had significantly higher biodiversity and richness compared with the canker-free trees. This study clearly demonstrated that arthropod diversity was supported by the oak tree canker disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Bok
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Chung Gyoo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Lab, SK Telecom, Sungnam 463-784, Korea.
authors.forename: Sangjo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea ; Department of Applied Biology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 600-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Sig
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwak
keywords: arthropod; canker disease; insect diversity; plant-pathogen-insect tritrophic interactions