Long-Term Effect of Elevated CO2 on the Development and Nutrition Contents of the Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Abstract

It is predicted that the current atmospheric CO2 level will be doubled by the end of this century. Here, we investigate the impacts of elevated CO2 (550 and 750 μL/L) on the development and nutrition status of the green pea aphid for six generations, which is longer than previous studies. All seven examined physiological parameters were not affected over six generations under the ambient CO2 level (380 μL/L). However, the elevated CO2 levels (550 and 750 μL/L) prolonged nymph duration, decreased adult longevity, female fecundity and protein content, and increased the contents of total lipid, soluble sugar and glycogen. There was a significant interaction between the effect of CO2 levels and the effect of generations on nymph duration, female fecundity and adult longevity. The elevated CO2 had immediate effects on the female fecundity and the contents of total protein, total lipid and soluble sugar, starting within F0 generation. The adult longevity decreased, and the glycogen content increased from the F1 generation. However, the significant effect on the nymph development was only observed after three generations. Our study indicates that the elevated CO2 levels first influence the reproduction, the nutrition and the energy supply, then initiate aphid emergency responses by shortening lifespan and increasing glucose metabolism, and finally result in the slow development under further persistent elevated CO2 conditions after three generations, possibly leading to population decline under elevated CO2 conditions. Our results will guide further field experiments under climate change conditions to evaluate the effects of elevated CO2 on the development of the pea aphids and other insects, and to predict the population dynamics of the green pea aphid.

Host plant-mediated effects on Buchnera symbiont: implications for biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

“…The protein concentration in the pea aphid was determined using the methodologies described by Li et al. (2021) and Lv et al.…”

“…The glycogen content of the pea aphid was detected according to the method of Lv et al. (2018) and Li et al. (2021) .…”

Long‐term effects of elevated CO2 on the nutrition provided to parasitoids by their herbivorous hosts

“…Owing to their reliance on phloem sap for survival, aphids are considered one of the insect groups most markedly affected by CO 2 ‐mediated changes in plant quality (Pritchard et al, 2007). For instance, elevated CO 2 concentrations (i.e., 550 and 750 μL/L) were shown to significantly prolong nymphal duration and decrease adult longevity, female fecundity and protein content, and to significantly increase the total lipid, soluble sugar and glycogen contents of the green pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) feeding on alfalfa plants (Fabaceae: Medicago sativa L.), for over six generations (Li et al, 2021). The observed CO 2 ‐mediated effects on aphids were predicted to eventually lead to a significant decline in aphid populations over time.…”

“…The observed CO 2 ‐mediated effects on aphids were predicted to eventually lead to a significant decline in aphid populations over time. However, the responses of aphids to elevated CO 2 do not seem to be uniform across aphid species, but rather to be species‐specific (e.g., Chen et al, 2019; Li et al, 2021). Thus, generalizations cannot be made as to how this insect group will respond to predicted elevated CO 2 conditions, and different plant‐aphid systems should be considered and studied separately.…”

“…Elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 may also profoundly interfere with plant‐insect‐natural enemy interactions (Draper & Weissburg, 2019; Zavala et al, 2017). However, while much attention has been given independently to the effects of CO 2 on plants and insect herbivores (e.g., Li et al, 2021; Somala et al, 2021; Xu et al, 2019; Zavala et al, 2017), effects on tritrophic systems involving plant‐insect herbivores and natural enemies have rarely been investigated (Boullis et al, 2015), with few exceptions (e.g., Boullis et al, 2018; Chen, Ge, & Parajulee, 2005; Dyer et al, 2013; Gao et al, 2008; Guyer et al, 2021; Hentley et al, 2014). Thus, this is an emerging field of research awaiting further developments and discoveries (Knaden et al 2022).…”