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Atmospheric change alters performance of an invasive forest insect
Author(s) -
Couture John J.,
Lindroth Richard L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.12014
Subject(s) - gypsy moth , fecundity , lymantria dispar , biology , ecology , botany , lepidoptera genitalia , agronomy , horticulture , population , demography , sociology
Abstract Atmospheric change and species invasions are arguably two of the most important factors affecting the long‐term sustainability of natural ecosystems. We examined the independent and interactive effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) and tropospheric ozone ( O 3 ) on the foliar quality of two host species and performance of an invasive folivorous insect. Trembling aspen ( P opulus tremuloides ) and paper birch ( B etula papyrifera ) were grown at the Aspen FACE research site in northern Wisconsin, USA , under all combinations of ambient and elevated CO 2 and O 3 . We measured the effects of elevated CO 2 and O 3 on aspen and birch phytochemistry and on the survivorship, development time, growth, and fecundity of the gypsy moth ( L ymantria dispar ). Elevated CO 2  had little effect on, whereas elevated O 3 altered, the composite phytochemical profiles of aspen and birch. Nutritional quality in aspen and birch leaves was marginally affected by elevated CO 2 and reduced by elevated O 3 . Both gases increased concentrations of phenolic and structural compounds in aspen and birch. Elevated CO 2 offset reduced foliar quality under elevated O 3 , but only in aspen, and to a greater extent later than earlier in spring. Elevated CO 2 generally had beneficial effects on, while elevated O 3 detrimentally affected, gypsy moth performance. Elevated CO 2 ameliorated most of the reductions in gypsy moth performance under elevated O 3 . Our findings suggest that atmospheric change can alter foliar quality in gypsy moth hosts sufficiently to influence gypsy moth performance, but that these responses will depend on interactions among CO 2 , O 3 , and tree species. Our findings also contrast with those of earlier studies at Aspen FACE , indicating that foliar quality responses to environmental change are likely influenced by tree stand age and longevity of exposure to pollutants to the extent that they affect plant‐herbivore interactions differently over decadal time spans.

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