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

1. Community genetics research has 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 remain 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,
specific leaf area, 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.