Effects of atmospheric CO[sub 2] and soil NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] on tree-insect interactions. II. Herbivory
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (United States)
Although rising levels of atmospheric CO[sub 2] are expected to directly affect forest ecosystems, little is known of how specific ecological interactions will be modified. This research evaluated the effects of enriched CO[sub 2] atmospheres and soil NO[sub 3] on insect performance in forest trees. Our experimental system consisted of two tree species (quaking aspen and sugar maple) and the gypsy moth, which is known to severely defoliate these host plants. We grew one-year-old seedlings for 60 days at ambient (ca 350 ppm) or elevated (ca 650 ppm) CO[sub 2] and at low (1.25 mM) and high (7.25 mM) levels of soil NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] at the University of Wisconsin Biotron. After 50 days, we conducted feeding trials with penultimate instar gypsy moths. Growth rates and food conversion efficiencies (FCEs) were highest for gypsy moths fed on maple foliage (strong NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] effect). Gypsy moth consumption rates increased markedly on enriched CO[sub 2] aspen foliage even though increased amounts of allelochemicals were ingested. FCEs for gypsy moths reared on enriched CO[sub 2] aspen foliage were decreased. This study illustrates that herbivore performance can be altered by enriched CO[sub 2] atmospheres predicted for the next century and that the magnitude of change will be affected by soil NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] availability.
- OSTI ID:
- 6396754
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930798--
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States) Vol. 74:2; ISSN BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ASPENS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ECOSYSTEMS
GROWTH
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEPIDOPTERA
LYMANTRIA DISPAR
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MAPLES
MOTHS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POPLARS
SEEDLINGS
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES