Skip to main content

Table 2 Leaf length and number of tillers in response to earthworms (−Ew…no earthworms, +Ew…earthworm addition) and plant community composition (low diversity…3 spp.; high diversity…12 spp.)

From: Herbivory of an invasive slug is affected by earthworms and the composition of plant communities

Parameter/

Low plant diversity

High plant diversity

Plant species

-Ew

+Ew

-Ew

+Ew

Maximum leaf length

    

A. elatius

54.1 ± 4.1a

54.5 ± 2.6a

59.9 ± 1.3a

57.8 ± 2.3a

P. vulgaris

6.4 ± 0.7b

5.7 ± 0.6b

7.5 ± 0.5a

8.5 ± 0.4a

T. pratense

23.6 ± 1.3c

20.2 ± 1.5c

30.4 ± 1.2a

27.4 ± 1.0b

Number of tillers

    

A. elatius

10.7 ± 1.1a

11.6 ± 1.3a

15.3 ± 2.2a

11.7 ± 1.1a

P. vulgaris

6.1 ± 0.9b

6.7 ± 0.8b

9.6 ± 1.4a

8.8 ± 0.8a

T. pratense

7.4 ± 0.6c

6.1 ± 0.4b

9.9 ± 1.0a

8.5 ± 1.1a

  1. Different letters after values refer to significant differences within a species (Tukey-Tests, p < 0.05). Means ± SE, n = 6.