The effects of increasing CO₂ and temperature on oak leaf palatability and the implications for herbivorous insects

Abstract Rising levels of atmospheric CO 2 are expected to perturb forest ecosystems, although the extent to which specific ecological interactions will be modified is unclear. This research evaluates the effects of elevated CO 2 and temperature, alone and in combination, on the leaf nutritional quality of Pendunculate oak ( Quercus robur L. ), and the implications for herbiverous insect defoliators are discussed. A 3 °C temperature rise reduced leaf nutritional quality, by reducing foliar nitrogen concentration and increasing condensed tannin content. Doubling atmospheric CO 2 temporarily increased total phenolics, but also reduced leaf toughness. The nutritional quality of the second leaf flush (lammas growth) was considerably reduced at elevated CO 2 . It is concluded that larval development of spring‐feeding defoliators and hence adult fecundity may be adversely affected by increased temperatures.