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Abstract:
Intraspecific plant diversity can modify the properties of associated arthropod communities and
plant fitness. However, it is not well understood which plant traits determine these ecological effects.
We explored the effect of intraspecific chemical diversity among neighbouring plants on the associated
invertebrate community and plant traits. In a common garden experiment, intraspecific diversity
among neighbouring plants was manipulated using three plant populations of wild cabbage that
differ in foliar glucosinolates. Plants were larger, harboured more herbivores, but were less damaged
when plant diversity was increased. Glucosinolate concentration differentially correlated with generalist
and specialist herbivore abundance. Glucosinolate composition correlated with plant damage,
while in polycultures, variation in glucosinolate concentrations among neighbouring plants correlated
positively with herbivore diversity and negatively with plant damage levels. The results suggest
that intraspecific variation in secondary chemistry among neighbouring plants is important in determining
the structure of the associated insect community and positively affects plant performance.
