A Case of Insect Grazing Affecting Plant Succession

Abstract

The effect of phytophagous beetles on plant succession in an old—field community in southeastern Ontario was investigated over a 5—yr period. An experimental comparison of insecticide treated and untreated plots indicates that grazing by Trirhabda spp. on the goldenrod Solidago canadensis resulted in a reduction in precent cover of this species (from 40—70% to °1%), and a significant increase in percent cover of a number of earlier stage successional species.