Salicylate plant defenses reduce aphid nutritional quality and increase predator consumption

Plant-induced defenses can shape multitrophic interactions by affecting herbivore performance and altering their suitability as prey. While the direct effects of these defenses on herbivores are well documented, their indirect consequences— particularly for predator behavior and biological control effectiveness— remain less understood. In our study, we examined how activating salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defenses in tomato plants affects the performance and nutritional quality of the aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, and how this intraspecific variation in aphid quality as prey impacts the predation by the lady beetle predator, Hippodamia convergens. Aphids on SA-treated plants exhibited reduced body mass, protein, and lipid content, indicating lower nutritional value as prey. Correspondingly, we recorded a stronger decline in aphid population on SA-treated plants in the presence of predators. To investigate the effects of reduced aphid quality on predation, we conducted a controlled ..., , # Salicylate plant defenses reduce aphid nutritional quality and increase predator consumption

**Journal**: Ecological Entomology (Accepted)
**Manuscript ID**: 25-0018-EEN

**Authors**

* M.S. Bijay Subedi
* Dr. Victoria Marie Pocius
* Ms. Mary Arlin Bunnell
* Ms. Abigail Myers
* Dr. Mônica F. Kersch-Becker

**Contact Information**

* M.S. Bijay Subedi: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
* Dr. Mônica F. Kersch-Becker: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

#### **Dataset Description**

This dataset investigates how SA-mediated plant defenses affect herbivore (aphid) quality and predator (lady beetle) consumption rates. It combines measures of aphid life history traits, body macronutrient profiles, and predator feeding behavior under greenhouse and laboratory conditions.

**File Information**

**Main File:**
`Plant_defense_Prey_quality_Predation_metasheet.xlsx` (Microsoft Excel Workbook)

#### Sheet Descriptions

### `Method.2.3_aphid_reproduction`

Purpose: Records the reprodu...,

植物诱导防御可通过影响植食性昆虫的生长表现、改变其作为猎物的适宜性，进而调控多营养级互作。目前学界对这类防御对植食者的直接效应已有充分研究，但其间接后果——尤其是对捕食者行为与生物防治效能的影响——仍有待深入阐释。本研究聚焦番茄植株中水杨酸（salicylic acid, SA）介导的防御激活，探究其对蚜虫（*Macrosiphum euphorbiae*）的生长表现与营养品质的影响，以及蚜虫作为猎物的种内品质差异如何影响捕食者七星瓢虫（*Hippodamia convergens*）的捕食行为。经SA处理的植株上饲养的蚜虫，其体重、蛋白质与脂质含量均显著降低，表明其作为猎物的营养价值下降。相应地，在捕食者存在的情况下，SA处理组植株上的蚜虫种群数量下降更为显著。为探究蚜虫品质下降对捕食行为的影响，本研究开展了受控实验……，# 植物水杨酸防御降低蚜虫营养品质并提升捕食者捕食量

**期刊**：《生态昆虫学》（*Ecological Entomology*）（已录用）
**稿件编号**：25-0018-EEN
**作者**
* M.S. Bijay Subedi
* Dr. Victoria Marie Pocius
* Ms. Mary Arlin Bunnell
* Ms. Abigail Myers
* Dr. Mônica F. Kersch-Becker
**联系方式**
* M.S. Bijay Subedi: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
* Dr. Mônica F. Kersch-Becker: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

#### **数据集描述**
本数据集旨在探究SA介导的植物防御如何影响植食性昆虫（蚜虫）的品质与捕食者（七星瓢虫）的捕食速率。数据集整合了温室与实验室条件下测得的蚜虫生活史性状、身体宏量营养素组成，以及捕食者取食行为相关数据。
**文件信息**
**主文件**：
`Plant_defense_Prey_quality_Predation_metasheet.xlsx`（Microsoft Excel工作簿）

#### 工作表说明
### `Method.2.3_aphid_reproduction`
用途：记录繁殖相关数据……