Consumption rates and food preferences of slugs in a calcareous grassland under current and future CO2 conditions

Peters, Halton A.; Baur, Bruno; Bazzaz, F. A.; Körner, Christian

doi:10.1007/pl00008893

Cited by 44 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…For example, females of two acridoid species displayed a higher preference for diets with a high proline content compared to males (Behmer and Joern 1994). Furthermore, it is known that elevated CO 2 can alter herbivore food plant preferences (Peters et al 2000;Goverde and Erhardt 2002). In our experiment, a preference for G. punctata increased in males of M. alpina, whereas it decreased in females at elevated CO 2 , leading to a substantially higher proportion of G. punctata consumption at elevated CO 2 in males than females.…”

Section: Food Choicementioning

confidence: 52%

Growth and reproduction of the alpine grasshopper Miramella alpina feeding on CO2-enriched dwarf shrubs at treeline

Asshoff

Hättenschwiler

2004

Oecologia

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The consequences for plant-insect interactions of atmospheric changes in alpine ecosystems are not well understood. Here, we tested the effects of elevated CO(2) on leaf quality in two dwarf shrub species (Vaccinium myrtillus and V. uliginosum) and the response of the alpine grasshopper (Miramella alpina) feeding on these plants in a field experiment at the alpine treeline (2,180 m a.s.l.) in Davos, Switzerland. Relative growth rates (RGR) of M. alpina nymphs were lower when they were feeding on V. myrtillus compared to V. uliginosum, and were affected by elevated CO(2) depending on plant species and nymph developmental stage. Changes in RGR correlated with CO(2)-induced changes in leaf water, nitrogen, and starch concentrations. Elevated CO(2) resulted in reduced female adult weight irrespective of plant species, and prolonged development time on V. uliginosum only, but there were no significant differences in nymphal mortality. Newly molted adults of M. alpina produced lighter eggs and less secretion (serving as egg protection) under elevated CO(2). When grasshoppers had a choice among four different plant species grown either under ambient or elevated CO(2), V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum consumption increased under elevated CO(2) in females while it decreased in males compared to ambient CO(2)-grown leaves. Our findings suggest that rising atmospheric CO(2) distinctly affects leaf chemistry in two important dwarf shrub species at the alpine treeline, leading to changes in feeding behavior, growth, and reproduction of the most important insect herbivore in this system. Changes in plant-grasshopper interactions might have significant long-term impacts on herbivore pressure, community dynamics and ecosystem stability in the alpine treeline ecotone.

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Section: Food Choicementioning

confidence: 52%

Growth and reproduction of the alpine grasshopper Miramella alpina feeding on CO2-enriched dwarf shrubs at treeline

Asshoff

Hättenschwiler

2004

Oecologia

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“…Explanations for the stimulated leaf consumption in plant communities containing fewer species could be that (i) slugs were initially browsing (tasting) across available plant species causing lesions on leaves [54] and plants in mesocosms containing earthworms tasted less well or were better defended (e.g. by N-rich defense compounds), (ii) consumption in low diversity mesocosms was higher because more shoot mass was available known to influence slug herbivory [55]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbivory of an invasive slug is affected by earthworms and the composition of plant communities

et al. 2013

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BackgroundBiodiversity loss and species invasions are among the most important human-induced global changes. Moreover, these two processes are interlinked as ecosystem invasibility is considered to increase with decreasing biodiversity. In temperate grasslands, earthworms serve as important ecosystem engineers making up the majority of soil faunal biomass. Herbivore behaviour has been shown to be affected by earthworms, however it is unclear whether these effects differ with the composition of plant communities. To test this we conducted a mesocosm experiment where we added earthworms (Annelida: Lumbricidae) to planted grassland communities with different plant species composition (3 vs. 12 plant spp.). Plant communities had equal plant densities and ratios of the functional groups grasses, non-leguminous forbs and legumes. Later, Arion vulgaris slugs (formerly known as A. lusitanicus; Gastropoda: Arionidae) were added and allowed to freely choose among the available plant species. This slug species is listed among the 100 worst alien species in Europe. We hypothesized that (i) the food choice of slugs would be altered by earthworms’ specific effects on the growth and nutrient content of plant species, (ii) slug herbivory will be less affected by earthworms in plant communities containing more plant species than in those with fewer plant species because of a more readily utilization of plant resources making the impacts of earthworms less pronounced.ResultsSlug herbivory was significantly affected by both earthworms and plant species composition. Slugs damaged 60% less leaves when earthworms were present, regardless of the species composition of the plant communities. Percent leaf area consumed by slugs was 40% lower in communities containing 12 plant species; in communities containing only three species earthworms increased slug leaf area consumption. Grasses were generally avoided by slugs. Leaf length and number of tillers was increased in mesocosms containing more plant species but little influenced by earthworms. Overall shoot biomass was decreased, root biomass increased in plant communities with more plant species. Earthworms decreased total shoot biomass in mesocosms with more plant species but did not affect biomass production of individual functional groups. Plant nitrogen concentrations across three focus species were 18% higher when earthworms were present; composition of plant communities did not affect plant quality.ConclusionsGiven the important role that both herbivores and earthworms play in structuring plant communities the implications of belowground-aboveground linkages should more broadly be considered when investigating global change effects on ecosystems.

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“…There is a substantial body of research focusing on the effects of elevated CO2 on plant-herbivore interactions, including leaf-chewers (Lindroth et al, 1993;Wu, 1993;Watt et al, 1995;Kinney et al, 1997;Brooks & Whit taker, 1998;Cannon, 1998;Roth et al, 1998;Wang, 1999;Peters et al, 2000;David et al, 2001), sap-suckers (Tripp et al, 1992;Awmack et al, 1996Awmack et al, , 1997Smith, 1996;Docherty et al, 1997;Bezemer et al, , 1999Cannon, 1998;Diaz et al, 1998;Brooks & Whittaker, 1999;Newman et al, 1999;Joutei et al, 2000;Hughes & Bazzaz 2001), and leaf-miners Smith & Jones, 1998). Larvae of leaf-chewers show poor perform ances under elevated CO2 concentrations, but the per formance of leaf-suckers does not always follow this trend .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different atmospheric CO2 concentrations and soil moistures on the populations of bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) feeding on spring wheat

Zhang¹,

Xing²,

Liao³

et al. 2003

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. Spring wheat plants were grown in pots at three CO2 concentrations (350, 550 and 700 ppm) and three soil water levels (40, 60 and 80% of field water capacity) in field open top chambers and were infested with bird cherry-oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus). Aphid population dynamics were recorded throughout the growing season and analysis of the chemical composition of spring wheat leaves was conducted at the same time. Results showed that: (1) Aphid populations increased with raised atmos pheric CO2 concentrations. (2) The aphid populations showed different responses to different CO2 concentrations. The population size, population growth rate and population density found under the 350 ppm CO2 treatment was far less than those recorded under the 550 and 700 ppm CO2 treatments. The population size, population growth rate and population density recorded under the 700 ppm CO2 treatment was slightly higher than those recorded under the 550 ppm CO2 treatment. (3) The effect of CO2 concentration on the aphid population was correlated with soil water level. The highest aphid population size was achieved under the 60% soil water treatment. (4) Atmospheric CO2 and soil moisture had significant effects on the chemical composition of the wheat leaves. (5) Aphid population size correlated positively with the concentration of leaf water content, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates and starch, while correlating negatively with the concentration of DIMBOA and tannin.

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Consumption rates and food preferences of slugs in a calcareous grassland under current and future CO2 conditions

Cited by 44 publications

References 77 publications

Growth and reproduction of the alpine grasshopper Miramella alpina feeding on CO2-enriched dwarf shrubs at treeline

Growth and reproduction of the alpine grasshopper Miramella alpina feeding on CO2-enriched dwarf shrubs at treeline

Herbivory of an invasive slug is affected by earthworms and the composition of plant communities

Effects of different atmospheric CO2 concentrations and soil moistures on the populations of bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) feeding on spring wheat

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