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Ecophysiological responses of salt cedar (Tamarix spp. L.) to the northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers) in a controlled environment

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Abstract

The northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers) was released in several western states as a biocontrol agent to suppress Tamarix spp. L. which has invaded riparian ecosystems; however, effects of beetle herbivory on Tamarix physiology are largely undocumented and may have ecosystem ramifications. Herbivory by this insect produces discoloration of leaves and premature leaf drop in these ecosystems, yet the cause of premature leaf drop and the effects of this leaf drop are still unknown. Insect herbivory may change leaf photosynthesis and respiration and may affect a plant’s ability to regulate water loss and increase water stress. Premature leaf drop may affect plant tissue chemistry and belowground carbon allocation. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to understand how Tamarix responds physiologically to adult beetle and larvae herbivory and to determine the proximate cause of premature leaf drop. We hypothesized that plants experiencing beetle herbivory would have greater leaf and root respiration rates, greater photosynthesis, increased water stress, inefficient leaf nitrogen retranslocation, lower root biomass and lower total non-structural carbohydrates in roots. Insect herbivory reduced photosynthesis rates, minimally affected respiration rates, but significantly increased water loss during daytime and nighttime hours and this produced increased water stress. The proximate cause for premature leaf drop appears to be desiccation. Plants exposed to herbivory were inefficient in their retranslocation of nitrogen before premature leaf drop. Root biomass showed a decreasing trend in plants subjected to herbivory. Stress induced by herbivory may render these trees less competitive in future growing seasons.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe for access to their lands. We also wish to thank the following USDA-ARS staff: Livy Williams III and Kirk Tonkel for providing the Diorhabda carinulata beetles used in the experiment; Brenda Grewell and Joy Futrell for determination of TNC concentrations; Delilah Wood and Tina Williams for providing the light microscopy and SEM images; and Tye Morgan and Bob Blank for their assistance with nutrient analyses. We are grateful to Amira Dittrich, Mike Schmeiske, and Sarah Thompson for valuable field and laboratory assistance. We thank Brenda Grewell, Lincoln Smith, and anonymous reviewers for comments on this manuscript. The experiments conducted in this study comply with the current laws of the United States of America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA ARS Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Keirith A. Snyder, Shauna M. Uselman & Timothy J. Jones

  2. USDA ARS Southern Plains Area, 1001 Holleman Dr, College Station, TX, 77845, USA

    Sara Duke

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  1. Keirith A. Snyder
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  2. Shauna M. Uselman
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  3. Timothy J. Jones
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  4. Sara Duke
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Correspondence to Keirith A. Snyder.

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Snyder, K.A., Uselman, S.M., Jones, T.J. et al. Ecophysiological responses of salt cedar (Tamarix spp. L.) to the northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers) in a controlled environment. Biol Invasions 12, 3795–3808 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9772-1

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