Biodiv Sci ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (1): 24283.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2024283  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2024283

• Original Papers: Plant Diversity • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The intensity of heat waves and insect herbivory on campus plants and their relationship with leaf functional traits

Ruoyue Li, Xiaochao Yang(), Zhanqing Hao, Shihong Jia*()()   

  1. School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
  • Received:2024-07-01 Accepted:2024-12-10 Online:2025-01-20 Published:2025-01-19
  • Contact: * E-mail: shihong.jia@nwpu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32001120)

Abstract:

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.

Key words: extreme heat, sunburn, herbivory, leaf, garden plants