Carbon dioxide-induced changes in beech foliage cause female beech weevil larvae to feed in a compensatory manner |
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| Authors: | MAUREEN DOCHERTY,DEBRA K. HURST,JARMO K. HOLOPAINEN&dagger ,JOHN B. WHITTAKER,PETER J. LEA,ALLAN D. WATT&Dagger |
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| Affiliation: | Biotogical Sciences Division, institute of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LAI 4YQ, UK;Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, SF-70211 Kuopio, Finland;Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland EH26 0QB, UK |
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| Abstract: | The phenology of Fagus sylvatica was unaffected by exposure to an atmosphere of elevated CO2 (600 μL L-1) after two years of fumigation. Non-significant changes in nitrogen and phenolic content of the leaves decreased the nutritional status of beech for female larvae in elevated CO2 such that they responded by eating in a compensatory manner; males were unaffected. Rates of development, mortality and adult biomass of Rhynchaenus fagi were no different from those in ambient CO2 concentrations (355 μL L -1). It is possible that, with the changes in leaf chemistry affecting the females, fecundity will be altered, with important consequences for populations of beech weevil. |
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| Keywords: | CO2 compensatory feeding Fagus sylvatica herbivory leaf-miner Rhynchaenus fagi |
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