Low quality diet and challenging temperatures affect vital rates, but not thermal tolerance in a tropical insect expanding its diet to an exotic plant

This study focuses on Cephaloleia belti (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a tropical insect currently expanding its diet to an exotic host plant. We determined how high and low-quality diets (i.e., native vs novel host), as well as exposure temperatures affect CTmax of adult beetles. We also estimated larval and adult survival when feeding on high and low quality host plants, when exposed to temperatures typical of the elevational distribution of this species, or when exposed to projected temperatures in 100 years. We did not detect an effect of diet quality or acclimation on CTmax. However, larvae and adults had different thermal requirements. CTmax is not affected by previous diet or acclimation as an adult. We propose that to understand processes involved in the adaptation and persistence of ectotherm populations in a warming world, studies must explore responses beyond CTmax, and focus on the response of vital rates to changing temperatures.

Source: Journal of Thermal Biology - July 24, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research