Abstract
The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in atmosphere is not only a major cause of global warming, but it also adversely affects the ecological diversity of invertebrates. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of elevated CO2 concentration (ambient, 400 ppm and high, 800 ppm) and Wolbachia (Wolbachia‐infected, W+ and Wolbachia‐uninfected, W−) on Hylyphantes graminicola. The total survival rate, developmental duration, carapace width and length, body weight, sex ratio, net reproductive rate, nutrition content, and enzyme activity in H. graminicola were examined under four treatments: W− 400 ppm, W− 800 ppm, W+ 400 ppm, and W+ 800 ppm. Results showed that Wolbachia‐infected spiders had significantly decreased the total developmental duration. Different instars showed variations up to some extent, but no obvious effect was found under elevated CO2 concentration. Total survival rate, sex ratio, and net reproductive rate were not affected by elevated CO2 concentration or Wolbachia infection. The carapace width of Wolbachia‐uninfected spiders decreased significantly under elevated CO2 concentration, while the width, length and weight were not significantly affected in Wolbachia‐infected spiders reared at ambient CO2 concentration. The levels of protein, specific activities of peroxidase, and amylase were significantly increased under elevated CO2 concentration or Wolbachia‐infected spiders, while the total amino content was only increased in Wolbachia‐infected spiders. Thus, our current finding suggested that elevated CO2 concentration and Wolbachia enhance nutrient contents and enzyme activity of H. graminicola and decrease development duration hence explore the interactive effects of factors which were responsible for reproduction regulation, but it also gives a theoretical direction for spider's protection in such a dynamic environment. Increased activities of enzymes and nutrients caused by Wolbachia infection aids for better survival of H. graminicola under stress.
Highlights
Carapace width of Wolbachia‐uninfected spiders was signifi‐ cantly shorter when reared with elevated CO2 concentration (Student's t test, t = 5.321, p < 0.0001) while, the carapace width of Wolbachia‐infected spiders was significantly decreased under high CO2 concentration (Student's t test, t = 4.574, p = 0.001)
The total survival rate was not significant among the four treatments, and H. graminicola was not affected by the in‐ teraction of elevated CO2 concentration and Wolbachia infection
We speculated that only one generation of H. graminicola was reared and assessed under elevated CO2 concentration; the effects on total survival rate might be limited
Summary
Fifty‐eight female spiders were collected from wild corn (Zea mays) field located in Henan Province (112°49′E, 34°8′N), China, during September 2017. Comparisons of carapace width and length, body weight, net reproductive rate, nutrition content, and enzyme activity of H. graminicola were done using Student's t test within variant CO2 concentration group or Wolbachia group. The total developmental duration of male H. graminicola was shorter than that of female spiders, and no significant effects were observed under high CO2 concentrations with Wolbachia‐uninfected spiders (Mann–Whitney U test, female: p = 0.402; male: p = 0.690). The interactions of Wolbachia and elevated CO2 concentration on total protein, amino acid content, peroxidase activity, and amylase activity were highly significant (two‐way ANOVA, F = 43.979, p < 0.0001; F = 34.696, p < 0.0001; F = 22.865, p < 0.0001; and F = 22.873, p < 0.0001), resulting in increased nutrient content and enzyme activity, which may be beneficial for H. graminicola in future
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