The impact of serpentine soils on plant traits and plant-herbivore interactions.

Serpentine soils, known for high heavy metal content and low nutrients, create harsh conditions for plants and herbivores. Although previous research has explored how serpentine soils affect herbivory, most studies have been restricted to a specific region, and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we conducted a large-scale study across 78 plant species from California, Spain, and Sweden, comparing insect herbivory and leaf traits (chemical, nutritional, and physical) in serpentine and non-serpentine habitats within each region.