Abstract Detail

Ecology

Irving, Mari [1], Mason, Chase [2], Goolsby, Eric [3], Dowell, Jordan [4].

Developmental effects of terpenes on Vanessa cardui at varying temperatures.

Secondary metabolites are organic compounds produced by plants that are not essential for growth, development, or reproduction. While they are not strictly necessary for plant survival, secondary metabolites have many functions including defense against herbivory and mediation of symbiotic relationships. Terpenes are a major class of secondary metabolites present in all plants and some are hypothesized to have diversified in response to specific plant-herbivore interactions. Herbivory is a major biotic interaction that plays out across broad temporal and spatial scales that vary dramatically in temperature regimes, both due to climate variation across geographic locations as well as the effect of seasonality. In addition, there is an emerging understanding that global climate change will continue to alter the temperature regimes of nearly every habitat on Earth over the coming centuries. Regardless of the source, variation in temperature may influence herbivory, in particular via changes in the efficacy and impacts of plant defensive chemistry. This study characterizes temperature-driven variation in the toxicological effects of several structural classes of terpenes in the model herbivore Vanessa cardui, the painted lady butterfly. We observed an increase in terpene toxicity at higher temperatures and an increase in development time as terpene concentration increased. Results obtained from this study yield insights into possible causes of seasonal variation in plant terpene production as well as inform effects of rising global temperatures on plant-insect interactions.

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1 - University of California, Santa Barbara , Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9620
2 - University Of Central Florida, Department Of Biology, 4110 Libra Dr, Orlando, FL, 32816, United States
3 - University Of Central Florida, 886 N Jerico Dr, BLDG20, BL301, Casselberry, FL, 32707, United States
4 - 11160 Sylvan Pond Circle, Orlando, FL, 32825, United States

Keywords:
herbivory
terpenes
secondary metabolites
temperature
toxicology
plant-insect interactions
chemical defense  
Vanessa cardui.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ECO3, Ecology: Climate Change
Location: /
Date: Tuesday, July 20th, 2021
Time: 4:45 PM(EDT)
Number: ECO3008
Abstract ID:106
Candidate for Awards:Ecological Section Best Graduate Student Paper