Anthropogenic pressures, rather than plant vigour, promote insect herbivory rates on Securidaca longepedunculata along elevation in a South African woodland

Anthropogenic pressures, rather than plant vigour, promote insect herbivory rates on Securidaca longepedunculata along elevation in a South African woodland | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 13 February 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Anthropogenic pressures, rather than plant vigour, promote insect herbivory rates on Securidaca longepedunculata along elevation in a South African woodland Authors : Mashudu Mamathaba , Kowiyou Yessoufou 0000-0002-4789-1723 [email protected] , Bopaki Phogole , and Orou Gaoue 0000-0002-0946-2741 Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173947065.52581408/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 286 views 151 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Understanding how chronic anthropogenic disturbances shape species interactions can enhance our ability to predict biodiversity resilience and guide conservation actions. Securidaca longepedunculata faces various stressors, including herbivory, which can negatively affect plant fitness by reducing growth, survival, and reproductive output. To investigate the impacts of anthropogenic and environmental stressors on herbivory in Securidaca longepedunculata, we conducted a survey of 270 plants across three populations in South Africa. Data collected were analysed by fitting a structural equation model. Our findings indicate that populations of S. longepedunculata closer to human settlements are most vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, and these pressures seem to promote insect herbivory, which further adds to the stress of the populations. Our findings further indicate that herbivory is intense at high elevations. Although this can be explained under the resource concentration hypothesis, it also fits into the recent general patterns, reporting the highest proportion of plants with glandular trichomes -- known for their contributions to chemical and physical defences against herbivorous insects -- at higher elevations. Overall, our study reveals the extent of a panoply of stressors that constrain the dynamics of the populations of S. longepedunculata. Further studies are needed to investigate how these stressors affect these dynamics. Supplementary Material File (manuscript.doc) Download 333.50 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 13 February 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 8 Apr 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords ecosystem ecosystem ecology plants statistical terrestrial theory Authors Affiliations Mashudu Mamathaba University of Johannesburg - Auckland Park Kingsway Campus View all articles by this author Kowiyou Yessoufou 0000-0002-4789-1723 [email protected] University of Johannesburg View all articles by this author Bopaki Phogole University of Johannesburg - Auckland Park Kingsway Campus View all articles by this author Orou Gaoue 0000-0002-0946-2741 University of Tennessee Knoxville View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 286 views 151 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Mashudu Mamathaba, Kowiyou Yessoufou, Bopaki Phogole, et al. Anthropogenic pressures, rather than plant vigour, promote insect herbivory rates on Securidaca longepedunculata along elevation in a South African woodland. Authorea . 13 February 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173947065.52581408/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); Cited by Mashudu Patience Mamathaba, Bopaki Phogole, Orou G. Gaoue, Kowiyou Yessoufou, Anthropogenic Pressures, Rather Than Plant Vigour, Promote Insect Herbivory Rates on Securidaca longepedunculata Along Elevation in a South African Woodland , Ecology and Evolution, 16 , 4, (2026). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73363 Crossref Loading... View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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