Impact of elevated CO2 and temperature on aphids – A review.

Abstract

Climate change manifested as increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and temperature has impact on agriculture including insect pests that reduce crop yields. Species of aphids are diverse and ubiquitous but their importance among crops differs. The present publication reviews 80 studies on impact of elevated CO2 and temperature (eCO2 and etemp) on several species of aphids of various crops. 25 out of 30 studies on variation of development time (DT), reported the reduction of DT with increased fecundity at eCO2 and etemp. Significant variations of life table parameters viz., increase in intrinsic rate of increase (rm), net reproductive rate (Ro) and finite rate of increase (ë) with reduced generation time (GT) under eCO2 and etemp conditions indicate the significant role of host plants. The indirect and direct effects of eCO2 and etemp on growth and development of aphids reveal complex effects of temperature and CO2 on plant-aphid interactions which in turn indicate specificity associated with aphid species and host plants. Impact studies of climate change on tri-trophic interactions are meager, however evidences of positive and negative influences exist. Continuous vigilance is needed on the climate change effects on the viruses transmitted by the aphids than on their direct damage.