Differential effects of elevated CO2 on the nutritional quality and toughness of C3 and C4 grasses: a test with Spodoptera frugiperda.

Abstract

With the current study, I wish to address the effects that elevated CO2 has on levels of carbon, nitrogen and leaf toughness in the grasses Lolium multiflorum (C3), Festuca arundinacea (C3), Bouteloua curtipendula (C4), and Paspalum notatum (C4). In addition, I wish to show the effects that changing nutritional quality of these grasses has on relative growth rates and consumption efficiency of two separate instars of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).