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

doi:10.17520/biods.2024283

Abstract

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

Ruoyue Li, Xiaochao Yang, Zhanqing Hao, Shihong Jia. The intensity of heat waves and insect herbivory on campus plants and their relationship with leaf functional traits[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(1): 24283.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2024283

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I1/24283

Figures/Tables 5

Table 1 Tree species selected for the study and their key information

物种 Species	科 Family	生长型 Growth form	采集株数 Number of samples
日本晚樱 Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana	蔷薇科 Rosaceae	乔木 Tree	10
紫叶李 Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’	蔷薇科 Rosaceae	乔木 Tree	9
长柄七叶树 Aesculus assamica	无患子科 Sapindaceae	乔木 Tree	10
全缘叶栾树 Koelreuteria bipinnata var. integrifoliola	无患子科 Sapindaceae	乔木 Tree	9
银杏 Ginkgo biloba	银杏科 Ginkgoaceae	乔木 Tree	10
女贞 Ligustrum lucidum	木樨科 Oleaceae	乔木 Tree	9
桃 Prunus persica	蔷薇科 Rosaceae	灌木 Shrub	8
紫丁香 Syringa oblata	木樨科 Oleaceae	灌木 Shrub	7
紫薇 Lagerstroemia indica	千屈菜科 Lythraceae	灌木 Shrub	7
石榴 Punica granatum	千屈菜科 Lythraceae	灌木 Shrub	10
木槿 Hibiscus syriacus	锦葵科 Malvaceae	灌木 Shrub	8

Fig. 1 Examples of manifestations of high-temperature heat wave (a) and herbivory (b) effects on leaves. (a) The leaf of Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana; (b) The leaf of Ligustrum lucidum.

Fig. 2 Differences in the sunburn damage rate (a), sunburn damage frequency (b), herbivory rate (c), and herbivory frequency (d) among different tree species (mean ± SE). LL, Ligustrum lucidum; PC, Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’; HS, Hibiscus syriacus; GB, Ginkgo biloba; PP, Prunus persica; KB, Koelreuteria bipinnata var. integrifoliola; AA, Aesculus assamica; LI, Lagerstroemia indica; SO, Syringa oblata; PG, Punica granatum; PS, Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana.

Fig. 3 Relationships of leaf functional traits with heat waves and intensity of herbivory effects. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were fitted, where significant results are indicated by the predicted mean (line) ± 95% confidence intervals (shaded in gray), the dotted line represents a near-significant level, and non-significant results only show the observations (points).

Fig. 4 Relationship between sunburn damage frequency and herbivory rate (a) and herbivory frequency (b). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were fitted, where significant results are indicated by the predicted mean (line) ± 95% confidence intervals (shaded in gray), and non-significant results only show the observed values (points).

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