Thermal plasticity potentially mediates the interaction between host Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in rapidly changing environments

Abstract

The results of this study suggest that thermal plasticity may enhance the survival of these two species when they are subjected to lethal low and high temperatures. However, C. partellus appeared to be more plastic than C. flavipes. These results have three major implications: (1) C. partellus may inhabit slightly warmer environments than C. flavipes, suggesting a potential mismatch in biogeography; (2) host-parasitoid relationships are complex and are probably trait dependent, and (3) host-parasitoid differential thermal plastic responses may offset biocontrol efficacy. These results may help inform biocontrol decision making under conditions of global change. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of heat shock on survival and predation of an important whitefly predator,Serangium japonicum

“…So far, however, few such studies have been done, with the exception of those by Mutamiswa et al. (,), in which thermal tolerance as well as thermal plasticity were compared and analyzed.…”

“…It is important to conduct comparative research on the relative heat tolerance of insect pests and their natural enemies to understand their interactions in response to heat stress. So far, however, few such studies have been done, with the exception of those by Mutamiswa et al (2017aMutamiswa et al ( ,2017b, in which thermal tolerance as well as thermal plasticity were compared and analyzed.…”

Global Climate Change as a Driver of Bottom-Up and Top-Down Factors in Agricultural Landscapes and the Fate of Host-Parasitoid Interactions

“…Generally, if parasitoids and hosts exhibit similar thermal tolerance, then, temperature variability associated with climate change may not decouple the long evolved relationships and hence efficacy of parasitoids ecological services. However, if parasitoids and hosts differ in their thermal preference, this may mean decoupled long co-evolved relationships with climate change and impacts on parasitoidshost population phenologies and abundance (Hance et al, 2007;Machekano et al, 2018;Mutamiswa et al, 2018). Furthermore, thermal preference is also highly subtle and varies with species, age and ontogeny (Bowler and Terblanche, 2008), thus adding complexity into predicting the effects of climate change on parasitoids-host population dynamics.…”

“…For parasitoids, the functional connectivity of natural and seminatural habitats with cropping systems ensures a continuum of suitable habitats where acquisition of critical resources such as nectar, pollen and sap is made possible with short-term improvement in crop yield through increased parasitism of pests (Gurr et al, 2003;Wilkinson and Landis, 2005;Cook et al, 2007). Such connectivity minimizes foraging time thereby reducing risk of predation (Weisser et al, 1994) or environmental stress, which becomes more frequent under changing climates (Mutamiswa et al, 2018).…”

“…It is increasingly documented that temperature fluctuations associated with climate change are shifting parasitoid-host phenologies and population dynamics (Agosta et al, 2018). As such, there is increasing interest on experiments elucidating effects of different trophic interactions (Machekano et al, 2018;Mutamiswa et al, 2018), and the most convenient indices to be employed (Agosta et al, 2018). A variety of simple matrices have been proposed, including warming tolerance (Hoffmann et al, 2013) and thermal safety margins (Kingsolver et al, 2013).…”