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Related Experiment Video

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Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling

Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling

Published on: December 18, 2011

Insect Herbivory Strongly Modifies Mountain Birch Volatile Emissions.

Jolanta Rieksta^1,2, Tao Li^1,2, Robert R Junker^3,4

¹Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Frontiers in Plant Science

|November 16, 2020

Summary

Insect herbivory significantly increases biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in Subarctic mountain birch forests. Even low levels of insect damage alter BVOC composition, impacting atmospheric chemistry models.

Keywords:

arctic biotic stress geometrid moth insect herbivory mountain birch stress severity volatile organic compounds

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Biogeochemistry
Atmospheric Chemistry

Background:

Insect herbivory is a known driver of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions.
Quantifying BVOC responses to herbivory in pan-Arctic regions remains understudied.
Subarctic mountain birch forests are sensitive ecosystems to herbivore impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess quantitative and qualitative BVOC emission changes in response to varying insect herbivore feeding intensity.
To investigate BVOC responses in Subarctic mountain birch (Betula pubescens var pumila) under natural herbivory levels.
To provide data for improved modeling of BVOC emissions and atmospheric feedbacks.

Main Methods:

Field experiments manipulating geometrid moth larval densities (Operophtera brumata, Epirrita autumnata) on mountain birch branches.
Branch enclosure method to measure BVOC emissions.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for BVOC identification and quantification.

Main Results:

Insect herbivory significantly increased overall BVOC emissions from damaged mountain birch branches.
BVOC emissions were elevated even at low herbivory levels, corresponding to up to 10% leaf area loss.
Herbivory altered the BVOC blend composition, leading to less intercorrelated emissions from damaged compared to undamaged plants.

Conclusions:

Insect herbivory, even at background levels, substantially influences BVOC emissions in Subarctic mountain birch ecosystems.
Changes in BVOC blend composition due to herbivory have implications for atmospheric chemistry.
Findings are crucial for accurately modeling induced and constitutive BVOC emissions and their role in atmospheric processes.