Global study of plant-herbivore interactions reveals similar patterns of herbivory across native and non-native plants

A core hypothesis in invasion and community ecology is that species
interaction patterns should differ between native and non-native species
due to non-native species lacking a long evolutionary history in their
resident communities. Numerous studies testing this hypothesis yield
conflicting results, often focusing on mean interaction rates and
overlooking the substantial within-population variability in species
interactions. We explored plant-herbivore interactions in populations of
native and established non-native plant species by quantifying differences
in mean herbivory and added a novel approach by comparing
within-population variability in herbivory. We include as covariates
latitude, plant richness, plant growth form, and cover. Using leaf
herbivory data from the Herbivory Variability Network for 788 plant
populations spanning 504 species globally distributed, we found no overall
differences in mean herbivory or variability between native and non-native
plants. These results suggest native and established non-native plants
interact similarly with herbivores, indicating non-native status is not a
strong predictor of ecological roles.