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 t...1. 群落遗传学（Community genetics）研究已提出，生态群落的组装存在遗传基础。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物种多样性与群落组成的关键因素。然而，在多数研究体系中，驱动植食者群落响应的具体植物表型（phenotypes）仍未得到充分探索。2. 本研究通过一项同质园（common garden）实验，探究优势宿主植物Hooker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，本研究针对26个不同的Hooker柳基因型，调查了5种不同节肢动物取食功能群（feeding guilds）的植食者响应情况。此外，本研究还量化了一系列决定叶片品质（如酚类化合物、表皮毛（trichomes）、比叶面积（specific leaf area）、碳氮比（C:N））以及全株构型的植物性状的遗传力，以期明确哪些性状最能解释植食者群落的响应……