Direct effects of the elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels on the growth, development and reproduction of Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)

The level of atmospheric CO[sub 2] has risen from 280 mu L/L to 360 mu L/L following the industrial revolution, engendering a critical shift in global biogeochemical cycles. This level of CO[sub 2] is anticipated to double by the end of this century. By altering the chemical composition of foliage, the increase in atmospheric CO[sub 2] levels may fundamentally alter the relationships between insect herbivores and their host plants. The results from this study indicate that the exposure to elevated CO[sub 2]: a) significantly increase larval and pupal development time of O. furnacalis, which result in the significantly decrease of the innate rate of increase (r[subm]) for the population; b) increase larval mortality, but the third and latter instar larvae were more tolerant to the elevated CO[sub 2] than the younger ones; and c) significantly increase food consumption, which may have led to more serious insect damage to the host plants in nature under elevated CO[sub 2] levels than ambient CO[sub 2] level.