Data from: Multiple plant traits shape the genetic basis of herbivore community assembly

1. Community genetics studies have posited a genetic basis to the assembly of ecological communities. For arthropod herbivores in particular, there is strong support that genetic variation in host-plants is a key factor shaping their diversity and composition. However, the specific plant phenotypes underlying herbivore responses remains poorly explored for most systems. 2. We address this knowledge gap by examining the influence of both genetic and phenotypic variation in a dominant host-plant species, Salix hookeriana, on its associated arthropod herbivore community in a common garden experiment. Specifically, we surveyed herbivore responses among five different arthropod feeding guilds to 26 distinct S. hookeriana genotypes. Moreover, we quantified the heritability of a suite of plant traits that determine leaf quality (e.g., phenolic compounds, trichomes, SLA, C:N) and whole-plant architecture, to identify which traits best accounted for herbivore community responses to S. hookeriana genotype. 3. We found that total herbivore abundance and community composition differed considerably among S. hookeriana genotypes, with strong and independent responses of several species and feeding guilds driving these patterns. We also found that leaf phenolic chemistry displayed extensive heritable variation, whereas leaf physiology and plant architecture tended to be less heritable. Of these traits, herbivore responses were primarily associated with leaf phenolics and plant architecture; however, different herbivore species and feeding guilds were associated with different sets of traits. Despite our thorough trait survey, plant genotype remained a significant predictor of herbivore responses in most trait association analyses, suggesting that unmeasured host-plant characteristics and/or interspecific interactions were also contributing factors. 4. Taken together, our results support that the genetic basis of herbivore community assembly occurs through a suite of plant traits for different herbivore species and feeding guilds. Still, identifying these phenotypic mechanisms requires measuring a broad range of plant traits and likely further consideration of how these traits affect interspecific interactions.1. 群落遗传学（community genetics）研究已提出，生态群落的组装具有遗传基础。尤其针对节肢动物植食者（arthropod herbivores），已有充分证据表明宿主植物的遗传变异是塑造其多样性与组成的关键因素。然而，在多数研究系统中，介导植食者响应的具体植物表型仍未得到充分探索。 2. 本研究借助同质园试验（common garden experiment），探究优势宿主植物胡克柳（Salix hookeriana）的遗传与表型变异对其关联节肢动物植食者群落的影响，以填补这一认知空白。具体而言，我们针对26个不同的胡克柳基因型，调查了5类不同节肢动物取食功能群（feeding guilds）的植食者响应。此外，我们量化了一系列决定叶片品质的植物性状——如酚类物质、毛状体（trichomes）、比叶面积（specific leaf area, SLA）、碳氮比（carbon-nitrogen ratio, C:N）——以及全株构型的遗传力，以期明确哪些性状最能解释植食者群落对胡克柳基因型的响应。 3. 研究结果显示，不同胡克柳基因型间的总植食者丰度与群落组成存在显著差异，多个物种及取食功能群的独立响应强烈驱动了这一格局。我们还发现，叶片酚类化学组成具有广泛的可遗传变异，而叶片生理性状与植物构型的遗传力相对较低。在上述性状中，植食者响应主要与叶片酚类物质及植物构型相关；不过，不同植食者物种与取食功能群所关联的性状集合存在差异。尽管我们开展了全面的性状调查，在多数性状关联分析中，植物基因型仍为植食者响应的显著预测因子，这表明未被测量的宿主植物特征或种间相互作用同样是重要的影响因素。 4. 综上，本研究结果支持植食者群落组装的遗传基础通过针对不同植食者物种与取食功能群的一系列植物性状得以实现。不过，要阐明这些表型调控机制，仍需测量更广泛的植物性状，且可能需要进一步考量这些性状如何影响种间相互作用。