近年来, 高温热浪等极端天气事件频发。2022年, 我国出现大范围持续高温天气, 综合强度为1961年有完整气象观测记录以来最强。高温热浪事件不仅直接影响植物生长, 而且可能通过改变虫食强度间接影响植物命运。本研究聚焦西北工业大学校园内常见的11种木本植物, 测量了97个个体共计2,358片叶片受高温热浪和虫食的影响强度, 及叶面积、比叶面积、叶干物质含量与叶厚4种叶功能性状。研究对比了高温热浪和虫食作用强度在不同树种之间的差异, 以探究各作用强度随叶功能性状的变化规律, 以及高温热浪和虫食作用强度之间的关系。研究发现: (1)日灼损伤频度、虫食率与虫食频度3个指标在物种之间存在显著差异。(2)日灼损伤频度与叶面积呈显著负相关关系, 与叶厚和叶干物质含量呈显著正相关关系; 虫食率和虫食频度均与叶干物质含量呈显著正相关关系, 与叶厚呈显著(或近显著)负相关关系, 虫食频度还与叶面积呈显著正相关关系。(3)叶片的虫食频度与日灼损伤频度之间存在显著负相关关系。本研究对于揭示极端气候下植物的响应与适应, 以及耐受高温热浪或虫食的园林树种选育具有一定参考价值。

Aims: In recent years, extreme weather events, such as high-temperature heat waves, have become increasingly frequent. In 2022, China experienced widespread and prolonged high temperatures, marking the most intense heat wave since comprehensive meteorological records began in 1961. These high-temperature heat wave events not only directly affect plant growth, but may also indirectly affect plant fitness by altering the intensity of herbivory. This study aims to clarify interspecies differences in the intensity of high-temperature heat wave damage and herbivory, investigate their relationships with leaf functional traits, and explore the interactions between high-temperature heat wave effects and the intensity of herbivory.

Methods: This study focused on 11 common woody plant species on the campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University. Data were collected from 97 individuals, encompassing 2,358 leaves, to measure the intensity of sunburn damage and herbivory, alongside four leaf functional traits (leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf thickness). One-way ANOVA was employed to assess interspecies differences in heat wave and herbivory intensity, while generalized linear mixed-effects model were used to identify patterns relating these intensities to leaf functional traits. Correlation between heat wave damage and herbivory intensity was also analyzed.

Results: (1) Significant interspecies differences were observed in sunburn damage frequency, herbivory rate and herbivory frequency. (2) The frequency of sunburn damage was negatively correlated with leaf area but positively correlated with leaf thickness and LDMC. Both herbivory rate and herbivory frequency were positively correlated with LDMC but negatively correlated with leaf thickness, while herbivory frequency also exhibited a positively correlation with leaf area. (3) A negative correlation was detected between herbivory frequency and sunburn damage frequency.

Conclusion: This study provides insights into responses of common woody plant species to extreme heat wave events and herbivory, identifies key leaf functional traits associated with these responses. Furthermore, it highlights the interplay between heat wave damage and herbivory intensity. The findings provide valuable guidance for understanding plant adaptation strategies under extreme climatic conditions and for selecting garden tree species that can withstand high-temperature heat waves or herbivory.