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Climate warming and drought modify galling effects on tall goldenrod
Emily G Parker1,2, Kara C Dobson3,4, Moriah L Young3,4
1W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI, USA. parkere5@oregonstate.edu.
Oecologia
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Climate change impacts plant defense against herbivores. Warming can reduce negative galling effects, but drought worsens them, decreasing seed production in Solidago altissima.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Plant Science
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Plants face simultaneous abiotic (drought, warming) and biotic (herbivore galling) stressors.
- Interactions between these stressors on plant fitness are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the individual and interactive effects of drought, warming, and galling by Rhopalomyia solidaginis on Solidago altissima.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Rainfall Exclusion eXperiment (REX) at KBS LTER.
- Applied drought and warming treatments to tall goldenrod.
- Measured plant productivity (stem height, biomass) and reproductive fitness (seed mass per stem).
Main Results:
- Warming mitigated galling's negative impact on plant height.
- Drought exacerbated galling effects, significantly reducing seed production probability in galled plants.
- Gall biomass, chamber number, and volume were assessed for gallmaker response.
Conclusions:
- Plant responses to combined stressors differ from single stressors.
- Warming and drought interact with herbivory to affect plant fitness and community dynamics.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting plant adaptation to future climates.
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