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How do extreme drought and plant community composition affect host plant metabolites and herbivore performance?

Authors :
Sonja Löffler
Carl Beierkuhnlein
Kerstin Reifenrath
Michael Weber
Anke Jentsch
Julia Walter
Roman Hein
Harald Auge
Martin Schädler
Source :
Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 6:15-25
Publication Year :
2011
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2011.

Abstract

Water availability and plant community composition alter plant nutrient availability and the accumulation of plant defence compounds therefore having an impact on herbivore performance. Combined effects of drought stress and plant community composition on leaf chemicals and herbivore performance are largely unexplored. The objective of our study was, therefore, to find out the impact of extreme drought and of plant community composition on plant–herbivore interactions. Larvae of the generalist butterfly Spodoptera littoralis were reared on leaves of the grass Holcus lanatus which was grown in experimental communities, differing in species- and functional group richness. These communities were either subjected to extreme drought or remained under ambient climatic conditions. Drought decreased relative water content, soluble protein content, nitrogen and total phenol content and increased the content of carbohydrates in the grass. As a consequence, the larvae feeding on drought-exposed plants revealed a longer larval stage, increased pupal weight and higher adult eclosion rates. Plant community composition mainly caused changes to the defensive compounds of the grass, but also marginally affected protein and carbohydrate content. Larvae feeding on species-richest communities without legumes showed the highest mortality. Our findings imply that climate change that is projected to increase the frequency of severe droughts, as well as alter plant community compositions, is likely to affect arthropod–plant interactions through an alteration of leaf chemicals.

Details

ISSN :
18728847 and 18728855
Volume :
6
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Arthropod-Plant Interactions
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........147a897a6218aa1b6b102803fb8dff81
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-011-9157-0