Data from: Root herbivory indirectly affects above- and belowground community members and directly reduces plant performance

1.There is widespread recognition that above- and below-ground organisms are linked through their interactions with host plants that span terrestrial subsystems. In addition to direct effects on plants, soil organisms such as root herbivores can indirectly alter interactions between plants and other community members, with potentially important effects on plant growth and fitness. 2. We manipulated root herbivory by Acalymma vittatum in Cucumis sativus to determine indirect effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, leaf herbivory, the leaf pathogen downy mildew, and pollinators. We also manipulated pollen receipt by plants to determine if root herbivory reduced plant reproduction through changes in pollinator visitation. 3. Overall, root herbivory had strong net negative effects on plant growth and fitness, with 34% reductions in both leaf and fruit production by high root damage levels relative to control, despite reduced infection by downy mildew. High root herbivory also reduced floral visitation by 39%, apparently due to lower flower production, as flower size and scent were unaffected. Above-ground herbivory was not affected by root herbivores. 4. Although root herbivory reduced pollinator visits, pollen receipt manipulations had no effect on fruit set, indicating that reduced pollinator service did not affect plant reproduction. 5. Synthesis. Root herbivory had indirect effects on a range of community members, including mutualists and antagonists both above- and below-ground. Although reduced pathogen infection associated with root herbivory would be expected to benefit plants, root herbivory had an overall strong negative effect on plant growth and reproduction, indicating that direct negative effects over-rode any potential indirect benefits.

1. 学界已广泛达成共识：地上与地下生物通过与宿主植物的相互作用建立关联，这种关联覆盖了陆地生态系统的各个子系统。除对植物产生直接影响外，地下生物（如根食性昆虫）还可间接改变植物与其他群落成员间的相互作用，进而对植物的生长与适合度产生潜在重要影响。
2. 本研究以黄瓜（Cucumis sativus）为对象，通过调控条纹根萤叶甲（Acalymma vittatum）的根取食行为，探究其对丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi）、叶部取食、叶部病原物霜霉病以及传粉者的间接影响。同时，我们通过调控植物的花粉接收量，验证根食性昆虫是否通过改变传粉者访花行为降低植物繁殖成功率。
3. 总体而言，根食性昆虫对植物生长与适合度存在显著的净负面效应：与对照组相比，高程度根损伤处理组的叶片生物量与果实产量均下降34%，尽管该组的霜霉病感染率有所降低。高根食压下的植物花部访花量也下降39%，这显然源于开花量减少，因为花的大小与气味均未发生变化。地上部取食行为并未受到根食性昆虫的影响。
4. 尽管根食性昆虫减少了传粉者访花频次，但调控花粉接收量并未对坐果率产生影响，这表明传粉服务的降低并未影响植物的繁殖能力。
5. 综合分析表明，根食性昆虫对一系列群落成员均产生间接影响，涵盖地上与地下的互利共生生物与拮抗生物。尽管根食性昆虫伴随的病原感染率降低本应使植物获益，但根食性昆虫整体上仍对植物生长与繁殖产生强烈负面效应，说明其直接负面效应掩盖了所有潜在的间接益处。