Invertebrate herbivory accelerates shift towards forbs caused by warming in a sedge-dominated alpine meadow

Results show that simulated warming significantly increased the aboveground plant biomass (APB) of forbs and total APB while the presence of caterpillars significantly decreased sedge APB and total APB. The increase in consumption on sedges by caterpillars under warmed conditions can largely be ascribed to the increase in feeding time of caterpillars. Importantly, the presence of caterpillars significantly decreased the APB ratio of sedges to forbs in the warmed but not in the unwarmed chambers.