Effects of elevated CO2 on foliar quality and herbivore damage in a scrub oak ecosystem

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased exponentially over the last century and continuing increases are expected to have significant effects on ecosystems. We investigated the interactions among atmospheric CO2, foliar quality, and herbivory within a scrub oak community at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Sixteen plots of open-top chambers were followed; eight of which were exposed to ambient levels of CO2 (350 ppm), and eight of which were exposed to elevated levels of CO2 (700 ppm). We focused on three oak species, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, Quercus chapmanii, and one nitrogen fixing legume, Galactia elliottii. There were declines in overall nitrogen and increases in C:N ratios under elevated CO2. Total carbon, phenolics (condensed tannins, hydrolyzable tannins, total phenolics) and fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) did not change under elevated CO2 across plant species. Plant species differed in their relative foliar chemistries over time, however, the only consistent differences were higher nitrogen concentrations and lower C:N ratios in the nitrogen fixer when compared to the oak species. Under elevated CO2, damage by herbivores decreased for four of the six insect groups investigated. The overall declines in both foliar quality and herbivory under elevated CO2 treatments suggest that damage to plants may decline as atmospheric CO2 levels continue to rise.