Leaf-cutting ants negatively impact the regeneration of the Caatinga dry forest across abandoned pastures

The mechanisms affecting forest regeneration in human-modified landscapes are attracting increasing attention as tropical forests have been recognized as key habitats for biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services, and human well-being. Here we investigate the effect of the leaf-cutting ants (LCA) Atta opaciceps on regenerating plant assemblages in Caatinga dry forest. Our study encompassed 15 Atta opaciceps colonies located in landscape patches with a gradient of forest cover from 8.7% to 87.8%, where we monitored regenerating individuals (seedlings and saplings of woody and herbaceous plants) in different habitats (nests, foraging areas, and control areas) over one year. We recorded 2,977 regenerating plant individuals, distributed among 55 species from 23 families. Herbaceous plants represented 82.1% and 58.2% of the total number of individuals and species, respectively. Species richness of both the whole and herbaceous plant assemblages increased along the forest cover gradient, but without difference between the habitats. Total plant abundance was highest in control areas followed by foraging areas and nests and this pattern held for both woody and herbaceous plants. Although forest cover did not influence the abundance of herbaceous plants and the whole plant assemblage, it positively affects woody plant abundance across control areas. Forest cover and habitat changed species composition of both the entire regenerating and the herbaceous assemblages. These results together indicate that LCA negatively impact regenerating plant assemblages, particularly in those sites with increased forest cover. As LCA proliferate in human-modified landscapes, they may prevent plant regeneration of disturbed areas.     

植物篱的生态效益研究进展

植物篱/植被隔离带指沿坡地等高线,或在农田、河岸、沟道等水体边缘营建的,由草本或木本植物单一或组合形成的植物条带.植物篱可以改善土壤结构,对土壤质地、孔隙度、容重等物理性质有显著影响,其机械阻挡作用可以拦截径流、增加入渗、减少土壤流失、影响侵蚀过程,还能减缓坡度、促进坡耕地梯化.本文通过梳理和总结国内外学者在不同生态系统类型区和自然地理单元上开展的相关研究,综述了植物篱对改良土壤理化属性、调节降雨入渗和水蚀过程、植被恢复、生物多样性保护、优化景观及生态服务等多个方面的影响.同时,提出了当前植物篱研究中的两大主要问题：在工程技术与应用上,需要对植物篱种植模式、结构选择、管理办法系统化;在科学研究层面上,要深入探究影响植被恢复与生态演替的机理.     

Classification,composition, richness and diversity of British hedgerows

Abstract. A floristic classification of British hedgerows is constructed. Hedges (the woody, structural element) and hedge‐bottoms (the mainly herbaceous ground flora) were analysed separately because different natural and management processes were expected to affect them. The 11 hedge classes varied in size from five to over 500 plots. Over two‐thirds of all hedges were dominated by Crataegus spp. or Primus spinosa. Hedge‐bottoms were more evenly grouped into four classes whose species composition could be related to broad land use/habitat types: intensive arable, rotational/mixed farming, managed grasslands, and woodland. The woodland class was only 12% of the total, and species characteristic of true woodland habitats were uncommon even within that class, so our data do not support the hypothesis of hedgerows acting as‘woodland corridors’for plants. Richness/diversity scores differed markedly between different hedge and hedge‐bottom classes. The richest hedgerows, both in species and inferred habitats, were among the rarer types, while the most common classes (both hedge and hedge‐bottom) were consistently the poorest. Comparison of species composition and diversity in hedges and hedge‐bottoms, and associations between them, all supported the hypothesis that the relative importance of historical, management and ecological effects differed between the two parts of the hedgerow; hedges and hedge‐bottoms should be treated ecologically as largely independent units. The classifications and richness/diversity scores enable easy preliminary assessment of the conservation value of a hedgerow. They also enable individual hedgerows to be placed in a wider (national) context.     

Plant diversity patterns in the Aljibe Mountains (S. Spain): a comprehensive account

The Aljibe Mountains are located in the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and have a remarkable biogeographical interest. The complete plant species list (trees, climbers, shrubs, perennial and annual herbs, ferns, lichens, bryophytes and macroscopic algae) was recorded in four 0.1 ha plots from each of the most representative community types (Quercus suber woodland, Q. canariensis forest, open heathland and Q. coccifera shrubland). Up to 119 plant species were found in total in the Q. suber woodland plot. The diversity of woody plants was analysed from 44 samples of cover (100 m line), and the herbaceous layer was explored in 200 quadrats (of 0.5 × 0.5 m). Three biodiversity components (species richness, endemism, and taxonomic singularity) were evaluated in both shrub and herbaceous layers. Open heathlands showed the highest richness of endemic species, both woody and herbaceous. The highest number of woody species was found in the evergreen Q. suber woodland, and of herbaceous species in the semi-deciduous Q. canariensis woodland. Taxonomic singularity was higher in Q. canariensis woodlands and Q. coccifera shrublands for woody species, but there were no significant differences in the herbaceous layer. Local species diversity of heathlands in this region resembles that of South African heathlands (fynbos), despite the obvious geographic and floristic distance, and contrasts with the low diversity of biogeographically closer, European temperate heathlands. The Aljibe Mountains show high diversity values for different life forms (from trees to mosses) and spatial scales (from community to region), and are rich in endemic species. Thus, this area should be recognised as a relevant unit within the Mediterranean plant diversity hot spots.     

Species richness and phylogenetic diversity of seed plants across vegetation zones of Mount Kenya,East Africa

Mount Kenya is of ecological importance in tropical east Africa due to the dramatic gradient in vegetation types that can be observed from low to high elevation zones. However, species richness and phylogenetic diversity of this mountain have not been well studied. Here, we surveyed distribution patterns for a total of 1,335 seed plants of this mountain and calculated species richness and phylogenetic diversity across seven vegetation zones. We also measured phylogenetic structure using the net relatedness index (NRI) and the nearest species index (NTI). Our results show that lower montane wet forest has the highest level of species richness, density, and phylogenetic diversity of woody plants, while lower montane dry forest has the highest level of species richness, density, and phylogenetic diversity in herbaceous plants. In total plants, NRI and NTI of four forest zones were smaller than three alpine zones. In woody plants, lower montane wet forest and upper montane forest have overdispersed phylogenetic structures. In herbaceous plants, NRI of Afro‐alpine zone and nival zone are smaller than those of bamboo zone, upper montane forest, and heath zone. We suggest that compared to open dry forest, humid forest has fewer herbaceous plants because of the closed canopy of woody plants. Woody plants may have climate‐dominated niches, whereas herbaceous plants may have edaphic and microhabitat‐dominated niches. We also proposed lower and upper montane forests with high species richness or overdispersed phylogenetic structures as the priority areas in conservation of Mount Kenya and other high mountains in the Eastern Afro‐montane biodiversity hotspot regions.     

Bee Preference for Native versus Exotic Plants in Restored Agricultural Hedgerows

Habitat restoration to promote wild pollinator populations is becoming increasingly common in agricultural lands. Yet, little is known about how wild bees, globally the most important wild pollinators, use resources in restored habitats. We compared bee use of native and exotic plants in two types of restored native plant hedgerows: mature hedgerows (>10 years from establishment) designed for natural enemy enhancement and new hedgerows (≤2 years from establishment) designed to enhance bee populations. Bees were collected from flowers using timed aerial netting and flowering plant cover was estimated by species using cover classes. At mature hedgerow sites, wild bee abundance, richness, and diversity were greater on native plants than exotic plants. At new sites, where native plants were small and had limited floral display, abundance of bees was greater on native plants than exotic plants; but, controlling for floral cover, there was no difference in bee diversity and richness between the two plant types. At both mature and new hedgerows, wild bees preferred to forage from native plants than exotic plants. Honey bees, which were from managed colonies, also preferred native plants at mature hedgerow sites but exhibited no preference at new sites. Our study shows that wild bees, and managed bees in some cases, prefer to forage on native plants in hedgerows over co‐occurring weedy, exotic plants. Semi‐quantitative ranking identified which native plants were most preferred. Hedgerow restoration with native plants may help enhance wild bee abundance and diversity, and maintain honey bee health, in agricultural areas.     

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

In late‐successional environments, low in available nutrient such as the forest understory, herbaceous plant individuals depend strongly on their mycorrhizal associates for survival. We tested whether in temperate European forests arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) woody plants might facilitate the establishment of AM herbaceous plants in agreement with the mycorrhizal mediation hypothesis. We used a dataset spanning over 400 vegetation plots in the Weser‐Elbe region (northwest Germany). Mycorrhizal status information was obtained from published resources, and Ellenberg indicator values were used to infer environmental data. We carried out tests for both relative richness and relative abundance of herbaceous plants. We found that the subset of herbaceous individuals that associated with AM profited when there was a high cover of AM woody plants. These relationships were retained when we accounted for environmental filtering effects using path analysis. Our findings build on the existing literature highlighting the prominent role of mycorrhiza as a coexistence mechanism in plant communities. From a nature conservation point of view, it may be possible to promote functional diversity in the forest understory through introducing AM woody trees in stands when absent.     

浙北地区不同土地利用下乡村草本层植物多样性研究

该文以浙江省安吉县两个典型乡村—繅舍村和赋石村为例,选取公园、农耕区、河道、人工林地四种不同土地利用类型,用Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数、Sorensen指数为标识多样性的指标,分析不同生境下草本植物多样性差异。结果表明：乡村生境中共记录物种162种,分属47科123属,其中禾本科与菊科物种数占总数的31.48％;农耕区生境的Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数最高,分别为2.76和0.91,农耕区与河道的Sorensen指数最高为0.57。从农耕区、河道、公园到林地生境,草本物种多样性整体呈减小趋势。另外,发现人工绿化措施会导致草本物种减少,如从种植水稻单一作物到复合作物,草本层植物随之改变。单一稻田与复合种植区比较,草本植物主要的科属组成无明显变化,莎草科、菊科、禾本科植物仍占主体;但草本植物群落主要物种组成发生变化,稻田转变成农耕区后,牛筋草、黑麦草,碎米荠、小飞蓬、喜旱莲子草成为草本层群落主要构成植物,水竹叶覆盖度减少,小飞蓬和喜旱莲子草的覆盖度增加。此外,还发现4种生境中共有喜旱莲子草、加拿大一枝黄花、土荆芥三种入侵物种,但未能对本土物种构成显著影响。这表明不同土地利用方式会严重影响草本群落物种组成及物种多样性;土地利用方式的变化,会引起草本植物主要群落构成发生改变;土地利用类型的多样化有利于本土草本物种多样性生存。该研究结果有助于为城镇化进程中保护乡村植物多样性、加速推进美丽中国建设提供技术支撑。     

Stochastic losses of fire‐dependent endemic herbs revealed by a 65‐year chronosequence of dispersal‐limited woody plant encroachment

The factors responsible for maintaining diverse groundcover plant communities of high conservation value in frequently burned wet pine savannas are poorly understood. While most management involves manipulating extrinsic factors important in maintaining species diversity (e.g., fire regimes), most ecological theory (e.g., niche theory and neutral theory) examines how traits exhibited by the species promote species coexistence. Furthermore, although many ecologists focus on processes that maintain local species diversity, conservation biologists have argued that other indices (e.g., phylogenetic diversity) are better for evaluating assemblages in terms of their conservation value. I used a null model that employed beta‐diversity calculations based on Raup–Crick distances to test for deterministic herbaceous species losses associated with a 65‐year chronosequence of woody species encroachment within each of three localities. I quantified conservation value of assemblages by measuring taxonomic distinctness, endemism, and floristic quality of plots with and without woody encroachment. Reductions in herb species richness per plot attributable to woody encroachment were largely stochastic, as indicated by a lack of change in the mean or variance in beta‐diversity caused by woody encroachment in the savannas studied here. Taxonomic distinctness, endemism, and floristic quality (when summed across all species) were all greater in areas that had not experienced woody encroachment. However, when corrected for local species richness, only average endemism and floristic quality of assemblages inclusive of herbs and woody plants were greater in areas that had not experienced woody encroachment, due to the more restricted ranges and habitat requirements of herbs. Results suggest that frequent fires maintain diverse assemblages of fire‐dependent herb species endemic to the region. The stochastic loss of plant species, irrespective of their taxonomic distinctness, to woody encroachment suggests that the relevance of niche partitioning or phylogenetic diversity to the management of biodiversity in wet pine savannas is minimal.     

太行山山地森林群落植物区系与地理格局——基于植物群落清查数据

太行山区位于黄土高原与华北平原之间,是我国生物多样性保护的重要优先区之一.本文以广义太行山涉及的108个行政县域为研究区域,基于太行山山地森林群落植物清查数据,系统分析了太行山山地森林群落的科属特征、区系组成、植物多样性地理格局及其丰富度热点地区.结果表明: 调查的778个样地得到太行山山地森林群落种子植物共计100科447属963种,其中,裸子植物3科7属12种,被子植物97科440属951种,生活型以草本植物占优势(71.1%);科的分布区类型以热带分布(38%)和温带分布(24%)为主,属的分布区类型以温带成分占主导(68.7%);太行山山地森林群落植物多样性的水平分布格局呈由西南向东北逐渐递增的趋势,群落物种多样性与经纬度均呈正相关关系,但不同生活型植物的多样性格局不相一致,草本植物多样性与经纬度呈正相关,而木本植物多样性与经纬度则无明显相关性;在垂直梯度上,太行山山地森林群落植物丰富度呈单峰分布,集中分布在400~1800 m的低中海拔地带,在1000~1200 m丰富度最高;基于群落清查数据绘制太行山山地森林群落植物丰富度分布图,鉴别出小五台山、云台山、太岳山、王屋山、中条山等山地为植物丰富度热点地区,应列入太行山优先保护的重点规划区域.     

Natural regeneration potential of abandoned agricultural land in the southern Gadarif Region,Sudan: implications for conservation

The present study seeks to provide a contribution to the understanding of vegetation regrowth on abandoned agricultural land by investigating the impacts of the previous cultivation period and the duration of the fallow on the subsequent natural regeneration in terms of vegetation composition, structure and diversity. The results of the study show that both factors have significant effects on the subsequent regeneration of plant species and thus the vegetation development in the southern Gadarif Region, Sudan. The oldest abandoned farmlands were recolonized by tree/shrub species, whereas recently abandoned ones are covered with herbaceous vegetation. There is a general tendency regarding the number of species to decrease with an increase in the period of cultivation. The plant species diversity pattern shows domination of herbaceous species with some scattered woody species. Vegetation changes due to land abandonment may have implications for the conservation of plant species diversity and composition of fauna harboured in the region. Although natural regeneration could be recommended as means of restoring natural vegetation that previously dominated that region, the current regeneration capacity might not be sufficient to reach the climax vegetation except for some pockets, which received more regenerative resources.     

浙江箬寮山百日青的群落生态学特征分析

通过样方调查,应用物种辛富度,物种多样性指数和物种均匀度等数据对分布在浙江松阳箬寮山地百日青（Podocorpus neriifolius）分布区物种多样性进行了研究。结果表明,箬寮山地植物种类丰富,共有维管束植物52科95属148种。科属组成多样,区系成分复杂,热带分布有49属,占总属数的52．12％,多于温带性质的属。木本植物的物种丰富度和物种多样性指数明显大于草本植物,乔木层植物Simpson指数、Shannon—Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数分别为6．7751、3．1593和0．6418;灌木层的分别为11．6826、3．8044和0．6781;草本层的分别为4．5537、1．7418和0．5378。灌木层-乔木层-草本层的物种多样性依次递减。根据分布生境、群落结构和种类组成,可将该山地百日青分布的群落分为三个类型,即甜槠木荷林、木荷红楠林和猴头杜鹃林。     

中国东部海岛维管植物的beta多样性及其驱动因素

beta多样性描述群落物种组成如何随环境梯度而变化。海岛具有边界清晰、面积和离岸距离不同以及环境变化剧烈等自然禀赋。目前, 我们对离岸距离、岛间距离和气候因素在海岛植物beta多样性变化格局中的相对贡献仍认识不足。本研究基于中国东部36个海岛的维管植物物种名录, 以Jaccard相异性指数度量beta多样性, 利用Mantel偏相关分析和beta多样性的变异分解, 探究了海岛不同生活型维管植物的beta多样性格局及其非生物影响因素。结果显示: 36个海岛共记录维管植物1,404种, 其中木本植物481种, 草本植物859种, 藤本植物64种。植物beta多样性随岛间距离和离岸距离差的增大而显著增加(P < 0.001); 海岛面积和气候要素对植物beta多样性无显著影响(P > 0.05)。岛间距离单独对beta多样性总变异的解释度为29.3%, 离岸距离独立解释了2.8%, 面积和气候共同解释了0.5%。木本植物与草本植物的beta多样性格局与总体一致, 距离因子对木本植物beta多样性的解释度高于草本植物(37.5% > 25.3%)。综上, 海岛植物beta多样性主要受岛间距离和离岸距离的影响, 反映了扩散限制是塑造中国东部海岛植物beta多样性格局的主要生态过程。     

Response of plant species and life form diversity to variable fire histories and biomass in the jarrah forest of south‐west Australia

Frequent fires reduce the abundance of woody plant species and favour herbaceous species. Plant species richness also tends to increase with decreasing vegetation biomass and cover due to reduced competition for light. We assessed the influence of variable fire histories and site biomass on the following diversity measures: woody and herbaceous species richness, overall species richness and evenness, and life form evenness (i.e. the relative abundance or dominance among six herbaceous and six woody plant life forms), across 16 mixed jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Corymbia calophylla) forest stands in south‐west Australia. Fire frequency was defined as the total number of fires over a 30‐year period. Overall species richness and species evenness did not vary with fire frequency or biomass. However, there were more herbaceous species (particularly rushes, geophytes and herbs) where there were fewer shrubs and low biomass, suggesting that more herbaceous species coexist where dominance by shrubs is low. Frequently burnt plots also had lower number and abundance of shrub species. Life form evenness was also higher at both high fire frequency and low biomass sites. These results suggest that the impact of fire frequency and biomass on vegetation composition is mediated by local interactions among different life forms rather than among individual species. Our results demonstrate that measuring the variation in the relative diversity of different woody and herbaceous life forms is crucial to understanding the compositional response of forests and other structurally complex vegetation communities to changes in disturbance regime such as increased fire frequency.     

牛背梁自然保护区种子植物多样性研究

对牛背梁自然保护区的种子植物多样性进行了研究。据统计,种子植物950种,隶属105科433属,其中,裸子植物4科8属9种,被子植物101科425属941种;木本植物372种,草本植物578种;珍稀濒危保护植物17种,资源植物丰富,分为药用,观赏,食用等10大类型,生态系统多样,按大的类型可划分为森林,灌丛,草甸,裸岩和农田,其中森林面积15055hm^2,占总面积的91.7%。是生态系统的主体。在此基础上,本文还提出了保护植物多样性应采取的对策。     

Woody Species Diversity in Forest Plantations in a Mountainous Region of Beijing,China: Effects of Sampling Scale and Species Selection

The role of forest plantations in biodiversity conservation has gained more attention in recent years. However, most work on evaluating the diversity of forest plantations focuses only on one spatial scale; thus, we examined the effects of sampling scale on diversity in forest plantations. We designed a hierarchical sampling strategy to collect data on woody species diversity in planted pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.), planted larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.), and natural secondary deciduous broadleaf forests in a mountainous region of Beijing, China. Additive diversity partition analysis showed that, compared to natural forests, the planted pine forests had a different woody species diversity partitioning pattern at multi-scales (except the Simpson diversity in the regeneration layer), while the larch plantations did not show multi-scale diversity partitioning patterns that were obviously different from those in the natural secondary broadleaf forest. Compare to the natural secondary broadleaf forests, the effects of planted pine forests on woody species diversity are dependent on the sampling scale and layers selected for analysis. Diversity in the planted larch forest, however, was not significantly different from that in the natural forest for all diversity components at all sampling levels. Our work demonstrated that the species selected for afforestation and the sampling scales selected for data analysis alter the conclusions on the levels of diversity supported by plantations. We suggest that a wide range of scales should be considered in the evaluation of the role of forest plantations on biodiversity conservation.     

上海大金山岛植被功能组成对草本植物、土壤动物和细菌多样性的影响

揭示植物群落对土壤动物和微生物多样性的上行调控效应有助于理解不同营养级生物多样性的维持机制。以往的研究主要集中在植物物种多样性对土壤动物和微生物多样性的影响,而关于植被功能组成自下而上的影响研究较少。以上海大金山岛13个植物群落为对象,在分析落叶木本植物占比与树木和草本物种多样性,以及土壤动物和细菌多样性的关系基础上,利用结构方程模型区分了落叶木本植物占比对土壤动物和细菌多样性的直接与间接影响效应。结果显示：落叶木本植物占比不仅分别对草本物种多样性和土壤动物多样性分别产生直接正效应和负效应（P<0.01;P<0.05）,也会通过草本物种的级联效应间接的降低地下土壤细菌多样性（P<0.10）。然而,木本植物多样性仅与草本物种多样性显著正关联（P<0.10）,与土壤动物和细菌多样性无显著关联（P>0.10）。该研究结果表明,相较于木本植物多样性,落叶植物占比在中亚热带北缘森林生态系统不同营养级生物多样性维持格局中扮演着更为重要的角色。     

Effects of termite mounds on composition,functional types and traits of plant communities in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Benin,West Africa)

Understanding the role of termite mounds in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is a priority for the management of tropical terrestrial protected areas dominated by savannahs. This study aimed to assess the effects of termite mounds on the diversity of plant functional types (PFTs) and herbaceous’ net aboveground primary productivity (NAPP) in plant communities (PCs) of the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve. PCs were identified through canonical correspondence analysis performed on 96 phytosociological ‘relevés’ realized in plots of 900 m². PFTs’ diversity was compared between savannahs and mounds’ plots using generalized linear models. In each plot, 7 m² subplots were harvested and NAPP was determined. Linear mixed models were performed to assess change in herbaceous NAPP regarding species richness, graminoids’ richness, specific leaf area and termite mounds. There is no specific plant community related to mounds. However, the occurrence of termite mounds induced an increase of woody and forbs diversity while the diversity of legumes and graminoids decreased. These diversity patterns led to decreasing of PCs’ NAPP. This study confirms that termite‐induced resource heterogeneity supports niche differentiation theory and increased savannah encroachment by woody species.     

深圳近海公园植物群落结构特征及其与景观格局的相关性

城市公园植物群落为城市生态系统提供重要的生态服务。对深圳最具代表性的6个近海城市公园进行实地调查,同时结合高分辨率的遥感图像,分析其植物群落结构特征及其与公园内部景观格局的相关关系。结果表明：（1）共调查到近海公园植物108科310属471种,其中乡土植物82科169属231种。草本植物中乡土植物比例较高,而木本中乡土植物占比较低。（2）TS-4和H-1分别是近海公园最常见的乔灌群落类型和草本群落类型,其样地量分别占总量的39%和26%。常见群落的指示种多数具有热带性质并占据主体地位。（3）公园中灌木植物种数低于乔木和草本植物,但群落稳定性较高。（4）半自然型和人工型近海公园各类植物的相似性,以灌木层植物最低。（5）公园整体景观格局中,斑块密度与林地面积比、林地最大斑块面积比呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。（6）各层植物多样性也受到景观格局显著影响：草本层植物多样性与草地、林地的斑块形状复杂程度分别呈显著负相关（P<0.05）;灌木层植物多样性与林地、水体的景观破碎度呈显著负相关（P<0.05）;乔木层植物多样性与草地最大斑块指数呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。公园景观破碎度的增大可能会导致植被景观面积减少。建议在公园植物造景初期就要重视对灌木的运用,尤其是一些生态本底比较脆弱的公园,以提高植物群落的稳定性和低维护性。同时应尽可能保留大面积的核心植被生态斑块,更好地发挥其生态功能。研究结果可为城市公园的规划设计、植物群落的优化配置与城市生物多样性保护提供依据。     

Non-native plants rarely provide suitable habitat for native gall-inducing species

For insect herbivores, a critical niche requirement—possibly the critical niche requirement—is the presence of suitable host plants. Current research suggests that non-native plants are not as suitable as native plants for native herbivores, resulting in decreases in insect abundance and richness on non-native plants. Like herbivores, gall-forming insects engage in complex, species-specific interactions with host plants. Galls are plant tissue tumors (including bulbous or spindle-shaped protrusions on leaves, stems and other plant organs) that are induced by insects through physical or chemical damage (prompting plants to grow a protective tissue shell around the insect eggs and larvae). As such, we hypothesized that gall-inducing insect species richness would be higher on native than non-native plants. We also predicted higher gall-inducing insect species richness on woody than herbaceous plants. We used an extensive literature review in which we compiled gall host plant species by genus, and we assigned native or non-native (or mixed) status to each genus. We found that native plants host far more gall-inducing insect species than non-native plants; woody plants host more gall-inducing species than herbaceous plants; and native woody plants host the most gall-inducing species of all. Gall-inducing species generally are a very cryptic group, even for experts, and hence do not elicit the conservation efforts of more charismatic insects such as plant pollinators. Our results suggest that non-native plants, particularly non-native woody species, diminish suitable habitat for gall-inducing species in parallel with similar results found for other herbivores, such as Lepidopterans. Hence, the landscape-level replacement of native with non-native species, particularly woody ones, degrades taxonomically diverse gall-inducing species (and their inquilines and parasitoids), removing multiple layers of diversity from forest ecosystems.