Early pest development and loss of biological control are associated with urban warming

Biol Lett. 2014 Nov;10(11):20140586. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0586.

Abstract

Climate warming is predicted to cause many changes in ectotherm communities, one of which is phenological mismatch, wherein one species' development advances relative to an associated species or community. Phenological mismatches already lead to loss of pollination services, and we predict that they also cause loss of biological control. Here, we provide evidence that a pest develops earlier due to urban warming but that phenology of its parasitoid community does not similarly advance. This mismatch is associated with greater egg production that likely leads to more pests on trees.

Keywords: climate change; ecosystem services; parasitoid; urban ecology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Control Agents
  • Cities
  • Global Warming*
  • Hemiptera / growth & development
  • Hemiptera / parasitology*
  • Insecta / growth & development
  • Insecta / physiology*
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / physiology
  • North Carolina
  • Nymph / growth & development
  • Nymph / parasitology
  • Pest Control, Biological*
  • Trees / growth & development*

Substances

  • Biological Control Agents