Abstract
The frequency and amplitude of heat waves are predicted to increase under future climate change conditions. We still lack a detailed understanding of how changes in the frequency and amplitude of heat waves are linked to the life history traits and biocontrol efficiency of host-feeding parasitoids. In the present study, we simulated a series of heat waves as a function of amplitude and frequency to investigate the effects on the life history traits of the host-feeding parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati. We found that both the amplitude and frequency of heat waves significantly affected the adult phenotypes. In the low-amplitude heat wave group, the frequency of heat waves did not change the life history traits of the parasitoid; however, when the heat amplitude reached 42 °C, medium (four times/week) and high frequencies (seven times/week) of heat waves detrimentally affected these parameters. Hence, these findings suggest that to obtain optimal biological control with this parasitoid, we need to carefully monitor heat wave pattern (especially the amplitude and frequency) over the short term (usually 7–10 days) before releasing a host-feeding parasitoid.
Highlights
Climatic changes, such as variable mean temperatures and extreme temperature events, play a pivotal role in the distribution ranges and communities of species [1,2]
We investigated the effects of experimental heat wave amplitude and frequency on the life history traits and biocontrol efficiency of a host-feeding parasitoid, E. hayati
The host-feeding event of parasitoids was significantly affected by host density (F1,59 = 6.68, p = 0.0127, Figure 2a), heat wave frequency (F2,59 = 6.55, p = 0.003, Figure 2a) and heat amplitude
Summary
Climatic changes, such as variable mean temperatures and extreme temperature events, play a pivotal role in the distribution ranges and communities of species [1,2]. Both mean temperatures and extreme temperatures can have significant effects on organisms and ecological interactions, most studies have biasedly focused on the effects of variable mean temperatures on species fitness or life history traits, thereby neglecting extreme temperature events [2,3]. Extreme temperature events, especially heat waves, will become increasingly frequent and will have increased amplitudes [4] Their impacts on organisms are thought to be more important than those associated with mean temperatures [2]. Heat waves have different effects on life history traits and the fitness of insects depending on the heat amplitude and heat frequency
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