Responses of insect herbivores to elevated atmospheric CO2: potential changes in mean population fitness of Pieris rapae. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Abstract

Thus, investigating the potential fitness consequences of elevated CO2 for insect herbivore populations centers on the following basic questions. 1) Does larval performance differ between plants grown at ambient vs. elevated CO2? 2) Does the correlation between female oviposition preference and larval performance degrade at elevated CO2? a) does the hierarchy of larval performance differ between plants grown at ambient vs. elevated CO2? b) does the hierarchy of female oviposition preference differ between plants grown at ambient vs. elevated CO2? c) If preference and performance hierarchies change, do they change in concert? In this study I address the first question and part a of the second using the lepidopteran crucifer specialist Pieris rapae fed on seven crucifer host plants grown under two CO2 levels.