ena-STUDY-ETHZ-15-10-2020-23:33:33:994-364
The determinants of plant and herbivore interactions along elevational gradients
Next-generation sequencing today permits the collection of large-scale dataset of comparable species interactions, in particular by means of DNA metabarcoding applied on eDNA samples. In this study, we used this method on insect feces to compile 48 plant–orthoptera interaction networks at multiple locations across the Swiss Alps (i.e. along six elevation gradient). We study the variation of network structure along elevation and investigate the factors involved to determine pair-wise interactions using trait-matching analyses related to the mechanical and chemical components of the plant–insect interactions.
Next-generation sequencing today permits the collection of large-scale dataset of comparable species interactions, in particular by means of DNA metabarcoding applied on eDNA samples. In this study, we used this method on insect feces to compile 48 plant–orthoptera interaction networks at multiple locations across the Swiss Alps (i.e. along six elevation gradient). We study the variation of network structure along elevation and investigate the factors involved to determine pair-wise interactions using trait-matching analyses related to the mechanical and chemical components of the plant–insect interactions.