Biosciences
Dr Frank Van Veen
Senior Lecturer in Climate Change Biology
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Key publications
Sanders, D., van Veen, F.J.F. (2011). Ecosystem engineering and predation: the multi-trophic impact of two ant species. Journal of Animal Ecology, 80(3), 569-576.
Jones, T.S., Allen, E., Haerri, S.A., Krauss, J., Mueller, C.B., van Veen, F.J.F. (2011). Effects of genetic diversity of grass on insect species diversity at higher trophic levels are not due to cascading diversity effects. Oikos, 120(7), 1031-1036.Abstract:
Genetic diversity in plant populations has been shown to affect the species diversity of insects. In grasses, infection with fungal endophytes can also have strong effects on insects, potentially modifying the effects of plant genetic diversity. We manipulated the genetic diversity and endophyte infection of a grass in a field experiment. We show that diversity of primary parasitoids (3rd trophic level) and, especially, secondary parasitoids (4th trophic level) increases with grass genetic diversity while there was no effect of endophyte infection. The increase in insect diversity appeared to be due to a complementarity effect rather than a sampling effect. The higher parasitoid diversity could not be explained by a cascading diversity effect because herbivore diversity was not affected and the same herbivore species were present in all treatments. The effects on the higher trophic levels must therefore be due to a direct response to plant traits or mediated by effects on traits at intermediate trophic levels. Abstract.
Abstract:
Effects of genetic diversity of grass on insect species diversity at higher trophic levels are not due to cascading diversity effects
Genetic diversity in plant populations has been shown to affect the species diversity of insects. In grasses, infection with fungal endophytes can also have strong effects on insects, potentially modifying the effects of plant genetic diversity. We manipulated the genetic diversity and endophyte infection of a grass in a field experiment. We show that diversity of primary parasitoids (3rd trophic level) and, especially, secondary parasitoids (4th trophic level) increases with grass genetic diversity while there was no effect of endophyte infection. The increase in insect diversity appeared to be due to a complementarity effect rather than a sampling effect. The higher parasitoid diversity could not be explained by a cascading diversity effect because herbivore diversity was not affected and the same herbivore species were present in all treatments. The effects on the higher trophic levels must therefore be due to a direct response to plant traits or mediated by effects on traits at intermediate trophic levels.Bukovinszky, T., van Veen, F.J.F., Jongema, Y., Dicke, M. (2008). Direct and indirect effects of resource quality on food web structure. Science, 319(5864), 804-807. Author URL
Van Veen, F.J.F., Mueller, C.B., Pell, J.K., Godfray, H.C.J. (2008). Food web structure of three guilds of natural enemies: predators, parasitoids and pathogens of aphids. Journal of Animal Ecology, 77(1), 191-200. Author URL
