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Heat wave event facilitates defensive responses in invasive C3 plant under elevated CO2 concentration to the detriment of insect herbivores
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  • Zhenya Tian,
  • Chao Ma,
  • Chenchen Zhao,
  • Yang Zhang,
  • Xuyuan Gao,
  • Zhenqi Tian,
  • Hongsong Chen,
  • Jianying Guo,
  • Zhongshi Zhou
Zhenya Tian
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Chao Ma
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Chenchen Zhao
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Yang Zhang
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Xuyuan Gao
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Zhenqi Tian
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Hongsong Chen
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Jianying Guo
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Zhongshi Zhou
Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
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Abstract

To predict and mitigate the effects of climate change on communities and ecosystems, the joint effects ofextreme climatic events on species interactions need to be understood.Using the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)—leaf beetle (Ophraella communa) system, we investigated the effects of heat wave and elevated CO2 on common ragweed growth, secondary metabolism, and the consequent impacts on the beetle. The results showed that elevated CO2 and heat wave facilitated A. Artemisiifolia growth; further, A. artemisiifolia accumulated large amounts of defensive secondary metabolites. Being fed on A. artemisiifolia grown under elevated CO2 and heat wave conditions resulted in the poor performance of O. communa (high mortality, long development period, low reproduction). Overall, under elevated CO2, heat wave strengthened the defensive ability of A. artemisiifolia to herbivores. Super adaptability to climatic changes may aggravate invasive plant distribution, posing a challenge to the control of invasive plants in the future.