Biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships in gall-forming insects

植物与昆虫的相互作用可以改变生态系统过程，特别是当昆虫改变植物的结构、凋落叶的质量或数量时。在本研究中，我们研究了形成瘿的蚜虫（Adelgidae）与云杉（Picea jezoensis）之间的相互作用，以量化瘿对森林生态系统凋落物分解和养分释放的影响。两种蚜虫导致空肠芽瘿的形成。腐腐凋落物的总分解速率低于未腐腐凋落物。两种不同菌种诱导的虫瘿分解速率无显著差异。腐败凋落物的剩余氮比例始终高于未腐败凋落物，说明腐败凋落物的氮素释放存在差异。我们的研究结果说明了植物与昆虫之间的相互作用如何通过改变凋落物输入的质量和数量来影响生态系统过程。

Plant-insect interactions can alter ecosystem processes, especially if the insects modify plant architecture, quality or the quantity of leaf litter inputs. In this study, we investigated the interactions between gall-forming adelgids(Adelgidae) and ezo-spruce(Picea jezoensis) to quantify how the galls affect rates of litter decomposition and nutrient release in an forest ecosystem. Two adelgids species leads to the formation of shoot galls on P. jezoensis. Overall decomposition rate was lower in galled litter relative to ungalled litter. Decomposition rate did not differ between galls induced by two different species. The proportion of N remaining was always higher in galled litter than in ungalled litter indicating differential release of nitrogen in galled litter. Our results illustrate how plant-insect interactions in an tree species can affect ecosystem processes by altering the quality and quantity of litter inputs.