Back to Search
Start Over
Shifting phenology and abundance under experimental warming alters trophic relationships and plant reproductive capacity.
- Source :
- Ecology; Jun2011, Vol. 92 Issue 6, p1201-1207, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Phenological mismatches due to climate change may have important ecological consequences. In a three-year study, phenological shifts due to experimental warming markedly altered trophic relationships between plants and insect herbivores, causing a dramatic decline of reproductive capacity for one of the plant species. In a Tibetan meadow, the gentian (Gentiana formosa) typically flowers after the peak larva density of a noctuid moth (Melanchra pisi) that primarily feeds on a dominant forb (anemone, Anemone trullifolia var. linearis). However, artificial warming of ~1.5°C advanced gentian flower phenology and anemone vegetative phenology by a week, but delayed moth larvae emergence by two weeks. The warming increased larval density 10-fold, but decreased anemone density by 30%. The phenological and density shifts under warmed conditions resulted in the insect larvae feeding substantially on the gentian flowers and ovules; there was ~100-fold more damage in warmed than in unwarmed chambers. This radically increased trophic connection reduced gentian plant reproduction and likely contributed to its reduced abundance in the warmed chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CLIMATE change
PHENOLOGY
ECOLOGY
PLANTS
INSECTS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00129658
- Volume :
- 92
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Ecology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 63232398
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1890/10-2060.1