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A meta-analysis of the effects of global environmental change on plant-herbivore interactions

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Abstract

Global environmental changes are hypothesized to affect herbivores indirectly via changes in plant defenses, and many studies have been conducted to explore effects of environmental change on plant chemistry and herbivory. We quantitatively synthesized data from these studies to produce generalities about the effects of a broad array of environmental changes on herbivores. Since conversion of natural habitat to agriculture has been one of the most profound environmental changes over the past century, the effects of global change variables on plant defense were also compared between natural and agricultural systems. We found evidence that increasing CO2, light availability, and nutrients all consistently increase herbivory, particularly by generalists. No significant differences in chemistry and herbivory response variables were found between natural and managed systems. Overall, these results are consistent with recent predictions of a disruption of natural trophic interactions with global change.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mark Fox, Angela Smilanich, Malia Fincher, and Karen Holl for important comments on the manuscript. We would also like to thank Dr. Rosenberg for his assistance with the use of his fail-safe number calculator.

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  1. Tara Joy Massad

    Present address: Max Planck Institute of Biogeochemistry, Beutenberg Campus, Hans-Knoell-Straße 10, 07745, Jena, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 400 Boggs Building, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Tara Joy Massad

  2. Department of Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA

    Lee A. Dyer

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  1. Tara Joy Massad
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  2. Lee A. Dyer
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Correspondence to Tara Joy Massad.

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Handling Editor: Gimme Walter.

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Massad, T.J., Dyer, L.A. A meta-analysis of the effects of global environmental change on plant-herbivore interactions. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 4, 181–188 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-010-9102-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-010-9102-7

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