Responses of leaf beetle larvae to elevated [CO₂] and temperature depend on Eucalyptus species

Oecologia. 2015 Feb;177(2):607-17. doi: 10.1007/s00442-014-3182-5. Epub 2014 Dec 20.

Abstract

It is essential to understand the combined effects of elevated [CO2] and temperature on insect herbivores when attempting to forecast climate change responses of diverse ecosystems. Plant species differ in foliar chemistry, and this may result in idiosyncratic plant-mediated responses of insect herbivores at elevated [CO2] and temperature. We measured the response of the eucalypt leaf beetle Paropsis atomaria (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) feeding on Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus robusta. Seedlings were grown at ambient (400 µmol mol(-1)) or elevated (640 µmol mol(-1)) [CO2] and ambient (26/18 °C day/night) or elevated (ambient + 4 °C) temperature in a greenhouse for 7 months. Larvae fed on flush leaves from egg hatch to pupation while being directly exposed to these conditions. Elevated [CO2] reduced foliar [N] and [P], while it increased total nonstructural carbohydrates and the C:N ratio. Elevated temperature increased foliar [N] in E. robusta but not E. tereticornis. Plant-mediated effects of elevated [CO2] reduced female pupal weight and increased developmental time and leaf consumption. Larval survival at elevated [CO2] was impacted differently by the two host plant species; survival increased on E. robusta while it decreased on E. tereticornis. Elevated temperature accelerated larval development but did not impact other insect parameters. We did not detect a CO2 × temperature interaction, suggesting that elevated temperature as a combined direct and plant-mediated effect may not be able to ameliorate the negative plant-mediated effects of elevated [CO2] on insect herbivores. Our study highlighted host-plant-specific responses of insect herbivores to climate change factors that resulted in host-plant-specific survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Climate Change
  • Coleoptera / metabolism
  • Coleoptera / physiology*
  • Eucalyptus / growth & development
  • Eucalyptus / physiology*
  • Female
  • Herbivory
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Larva / physiology
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / physiology
  • Pupa / growth & development
  • Pupa / metabolism
  • Pupa / physiology
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide