Elevated Atmospheric CO₂ Impairs Aphid Escape Responses to Predators and Conspecific Alarm Signals

Abstract

Research into the impact of atmospheric change on predator–prey interactions has mainly focused on density dependent responses and trophic linkages. As yet, the chemical ecology underpinning predator–prey interactions has received little attention in environmental change research. Group living animals have evolved behavioral mechanisms to escape predation, including chemical alarm signalling. Chemical alarm signalling between conspecific prey could be susceptible to environmental change if the physiology and behavior of these organisms are affected by changes in dietary quality resulting from environmental change. Using Rubus idaeus plants, we show that elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ (eCO₂) severely impaired escape responses of the aphid Amphorophora idaei to predation by ladybird larvae (Harmonia axyridis). Escape responses to ladybirds was reduced by >50 % after aphids had been reared on plants grown under eCO₂. This behavioral response was rapidly induced, occurring within 24 h of being transferred to plants grown at eCO₂ and, once induced, persisted even after aphids were transferred to plants grown at ambient CO₂. Escape responses were impaired due to reduced sensitivity to aphid alarm pheromone, (E)-β-farnesene, via an undefined plant-mediated mechanism. Aphid abundance often increases under eCO₂, however, reduced efficacy of conspecific signalling may increase aphid vulnerability to predation, highlighting the need to study the chemical ecology of predator–prey interactions under environmental change.