Plants and animals evolve against a background of continual climate change, but until recently this change proceeded at a pace determined by natural forces. Now, human-induced alterations in land use and in the atmosphere are accelerating the rate of change. These alterations promise to challenge the ability of organisms to respond to rapid environmental change. Previous work has demonstrated that drought stress alters the dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions. Using these results and those from climate models, a qualitative model of the effects of climate change on plant-herbivore interactions will be constructed. Questions about the direct and indirect effects of climate change on herbivore and plant quality, population size and community structure will be addressed. The model will generate testable hypotheses and guide the design of future work by clarifying which parameters need further study. This research furthers understanding of plant-herbivore interactions by incorporating knowledge of plant chemistry, herbivore behavior and physiology with existing methods and data on population dynamics.
