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Elevated CO 2 lessens predation of Chrysopa sinica on Aphis gossypii
Author(s) -
Gao Feng,
Chen Fajun,
Ge Feng
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2010.00979.x
Subject(s) - biology , aphis gossypii , chrysopidae , neuroptera , aphididae , aphid , fecundity , instar , larva , population , botany , horticulture , pest analysis , population dynamics , predation , malvaceae , chrysoperla carnea , toxicology , homoptera , ecology , demography , sociology
Most studies on the effects of elevated atmospheric CO 2 on organisms have focused on the performance of plants or herbivores. Few reports have examined the impact on the ability of predators at the third trophic level. In this experiment, we made use of open‐top chambers to quantify the effects of elevated CO 2 on growth, development, and predatory ability of two successive generations of Chinese lacewing, Chrysopa sinica (Tjeder) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), feeding on cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), which were reared on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), grown under elevated CO 2 (double ambient vs. ambient). Higher atmospheric CO 2 concentrations reduced the duration of larval development and the survival rate of pupae, and caused decreased weight in adult female C. sinica , but had no significant effects on survival rate of each larval stage, female adult fecundity, egg hatch rate, or adult life span. The predatory ability of larvae in the third instar and the total larval stage of C. sinica that fed on A. gossypii were significantly lower in elevated CO 2 environments. The number of aphids consumed by first‐generation lacewing population did not change significantly with different CO 2 treatments; however, significantly fewer aphids were consumed by the second generation of the lacewing population with elevated CO 2 . We speculate that A. gossypii may become a more serious pest under an environment with elevated CO 2 concentrations because of the reduced predatory ability of C. sinica on A. gossypii .