Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations alter plant metabolism and may reshape plant-herbivore interactions. However, most studies have focused on simplified systems, such as a single plant-herbivore interaction, limiting our understand...
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations alter plant metabolism and may reshape plant-herbivore interactions. However, most studies have focused on simplified systems, such as a single plant-herbivore interaction, limiting our understanding of how entire ecosystems respond. To address this gap, we employed a multiple-herbivore system to investigate the effects of elevated CO2 on plant-mediated interactions between a leaf-chewer (Spodoptera litura) and a phloem-feeder (Myzus persicae) feeding on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Elevated CO2 conditions (~540 ppm, WGIII C6 scenario) were simulated using open-top chambers (OTCs). We found that elevated CO2 enhanced plant resistance to the leaf-chewer, as indicated by greater biomass conservation and reduced leaf-chewer performance with dual herbivore attacks, a pattern that was not observed under single-species feeding. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed broad shifts in plant metabolites under elevated CO2, and specific chemical groups upregulated particularly under certain herbivory conditions may contribute to enhanced herbivore resistance. Moreover, the pattern of the reduced leaf-chewer performance was repeated in other Brassica species, Chinese cabbage and rapeseed. These findings suggest that rising CO2 could alter species diversity and coexistence patterns within herbivore communities through changes in plant physiology. Our study advances understanding of how complex herbivore communities may respond to elevated CO2 and highlights the potential of this knowledge to inform strategies for safeguarding food security under future climate change.