Relative importance of taste and vision in reducing bird damage to crops with methiocarb,a chemical repellent

The relative importance of taste and vision for methiocarb-induced food aversions was studied in captive house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus). Seed handling behavior and patterns of consumption of safflower seeds treated with methiocarb indicated that taste was not involved. Rather, the data suggest that, in the absence of visual cues to palatability, the finches responded to physiological effects following methiocarb ingestion. In an experiment to assess the effect of an added visual signal, pairs of finches given methiocarb-treated hulled oats with red tape on their food bowl showed more aversion to the treated food than did pairs without tape. These and other findings suggest that methods to reduce bird damage to crops with chemical repellents should emphasize visual cues rather than taste.     

Effects of molluscicide baits on field populations of house mice

Two trials were carried out to test the effects of field applications of snail baits on populations of house mice (Mus domesticus) inhabiting cereal-cropping fields during a mouse plague in South Australia. In the first trial, grain based pellets containing 2% w/w active ingredient methiocarb, were laid in trails across fields before crops were sown. The second tested the effect of whole wheat grains treated with 1% w/w methiocarb when broadcast across maturing barley crops. Treatment effects were estimated by comparison with untreated control plots. In the methiocarb-treated wheat trial, comparison was also made with 0.3% w/w strychnine-treated wheat treatments. Methiocarb baiting reduced estimated mouse numbers by 0–46%. Surviving mice did not accept the excess bait material available. In contrast, strychnine-treated wheat reduced estimated mouse numbers by 86–94%. These trials indicate that methiocarb is not likely to be a useful field rodenticide. Furthermore, the consumption of bait by mice is not likely to jeopardise snail control operations. However, methiocarb baits could cause sufficient mortality to pose a threat to rare or endangered granivorous rodents inhabiting agricultural fields.     

Synthesis of TiO2 visible light catalysts with controllable crystalline phase and morphology from Ti-bearing electric arc furnace molten slag

TiO₂ visible light catalysts with different crystalline phases and morphologies were synthesized from titanium-bearing electric arc furnace molten slag (Ti-bearing EAF slag) by using a simple acidolysis process. The effects of the pH of the HCl solution, liquid to solid ratio (R_L/S, HCl solution to the residue ratio, mL/g) and acidolysis time on the micro-morphology and crystalline phase of as-prepared TiO₂ photocatalysts were systematically investigated. The results indicated that with decreasing pH in the HCl solution and increasing R_L/S, the crystalline phase and micro-morphology of the obtained TiO₂ nanostructures tended to transform from anatase type TiO₂ with spherical nanoparticle structures to rutile type TiO₂ with needle-like nanorod structures. The acidolysis time had little influence on the crystalline phase but great impact on the size of the obtained TiO₂. The growth mechanism of TiO₂ from Ti-bearing EAF slag during the acidolysis process was also discussed. In addition, the influence of R_L/S on the photocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanostructured TiO₂ was studied. The results showed that the photodegradation efficiency for Rhodamine B solution could reach 91.00% in 120 min when the R_L/S was controlled at 50:1.     

Accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk of women from an e-waste recycling center in China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) can be transferred to infants through the ingestion of breast milk, resulting in potential health risk. In this study, PBDEs, hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers(OH-PBDEs) and 2,2′,4,4′,5,6′-hexachlorobiphenyl(CB-153)in human milk from women living adjacent to e-waste recycling sites of Wenling,China, were investigated. The median level of PBDEs in samples from residents living in the e-waste recycling environment 20 years(R_20group, 19.5 ng/g lipid weight(lw))was significantly higher than that for residents living in Wenling 3 years(R_3group,3.88 ng/g lw)(p 0.05), likely ascribable to specific exposure to PBDEs from e-waste recycling activities. In the R_20 group, most congeners(except for BDE-209) were correlated with each other(p 0.05). Moreover, CB-153 showed significant association with most PBDE congeners, rather than BDE-209. The relationship indicated that most BDE congeners other than BDE-209 shared common sources and/or pathways with CB-153, e.g., dietary ingestion. The correlations between BDE-209 and other congeners were different in the two groups, likely suggesting their different exposure sources and/or pathways for PBDEs.Although estimated dietary intake of PBDEs for infants via breast milk was lower than the minimum value affecting human health, the PBDE exposure of infants should be of great concern because of their potential effect on the development of neonates over long-term exposure. OH-PBDEs were not detected in the collected samples, which is in accordance with reports in published literature, likely indicating that they were not apt to be accumulated in human milk.     

Evaluating the influence of air pollution on solar radiation observations over the coastal region of Alicante (Southeastern Spain)

The present study evaluates ground-based downward surface shortwave radiation (R_s) over the coastal region of Alicante (Southeastern Spain). Hourly measurements collected over the eleven-year period 2010-2020 are used. Two weather stations located over the region capital, Alicante, have been selected as representative of urban and suburban typologies. Two additional weather stations far from the city have been selected representing rural typologies. R_s is significantly reduced over the urban station during the morning hours within the winter season compared to the observations recorded over the suburban and rural stations, with a global mean difference of -81 and -120 W/m² at 10 LT, respectively. However, no significant differences are obtained during the midday sun, with a global mean difference of -20 W/m² between the urban and rural stations. With the aim of explaining these differences, the current paper investigates the relationship between R_s and different air pollutants: NO_x, SO₂, and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) as well as the wind field measured at the urban and suburban stations. The results found in this work point towards a close relationship between R_s and NO_x concentrations annual cycles, which are also influenced by the prevailing wind circulations observed over the study area. A global mean NO_x concentration of 107 µg/m³ is observed over the urban station at 10 LT during the winter season. In contrast, these high concentrations are significantly reduced over the suburban station, with global mean value of 40 µg/m³ at 10 LT, for this period of the year.     

解偶联剂邻氯苯酚作用下活性污泥微生物群落结构的演替规律研究

投加解偶联剂邻氯苯酚可以实现活性污泥系统的污泥减量,但邻氯苯酚长时间作用下系统中微生物群落结构及多样性的变化尚不清楚.因此,本研究利用2个序批式反应器（SBR）进行了63 d的实验,考察了未投加邻氯苯酚（R_A）和投加10 mg·L^-1邻氯苯酚（R_B）条件下,活性污泥系统中基质去除特性及微生物群落结构的变化规律.研究结果表明,投加10 mg·L^-1的邻氯苯酚使得污泥减量达41.3%,COD平均去除率下降10.4%.氨氮去除率在实验前期持续下降,在第28 d时下降至82.3%,而后逐渐恢复到93.2%.高通量测序结果表明,投加邻氯苯酚后系统中微生物丰度及多样性逐渐降低.R_B系统中主导菌门Proteobacteria的相对丰度一直保持在50%以上.硝化菌属中Nitrosomonas和Nitrospira的相对丰度最高降低了约88.3%和100%（第28 d）,但在实验后期有所恢复.在第63 d,R_B系统中絮凝菌Zoogloea的相对丰度下降了98.2%,而丝状菌Meganema丰度增加至33.8%,这导致系统污泥沉降性能略有下降.此外,Dokdonella的相对丰度由0.68%增加至1.33%,而Paracoccus的相对丰度增加了近36倍,这些参与难降解有机物的功能菌增加说明其可能参与了邻氯苯酚的降解.本研究结果对于解析解偶联剂长时间作用下活性污泥微生物的响应机制具有重要的指导意义.     

Characterization of Methylocystis strain JTA1 isolated from aged refuse and its tolerance to chloroform

To accelerate the efficiency of methane biodegradation in landfills,a Gram-negative,rod-shaped,non-motile,non-spore-forming bacterium,JTA1,which can utilize methane as well as acetate,was isolated from the Laogang MSW landfills,Shanghai,China.Strain JTA1 was a member of genus Methylocystis on the basis of 16S rRNA and pmoA gene sequence similarity.The maximum specific cell growth rates(μmax=0.042 hr-1,R2=0.995) was derived through Boltzmann simulation,and the apparent half-saturation constants(Km(app)=7.08mmol/L,R2=0.982) was calculated according to Michaelis-Menton hyperbolic model,indicating that Methylocystis strain JTA1 had higher-affinity potential for methane oxidation than other reported methanotrophs.By way of adding the strain JTA1 culture,the methane consumption of aged refuse reached 115mL,almost two times of control experiment.In addition,high tolerance of Methylocystis strain JTA1 to chloroform could facilitate the methane oxidation of aged refuse bio-covers.At the chloroform concentration of 50mg/L,the methane-oxidation rate of bio-cover reached 0.114mL/(day·g),much higher than the highest rate,0.0135mL/(day·g),of reported bio-covers.In conclusion,strain JTA1 opens up a new possibility for environmental biotechnology,such as soil or landfills bioremediation and wastewater decontamination.     

Effects of fumigating rice plants with sulphur dioxide on photosynthetic pigments and nonstructural carbohydrates

Exposure of Oryza sativa plants to 670 and 1330 μg m⁻³ SO₂ during tillering and flowering decreased the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and starch, and increased peroxidase activity and amounts of reducing sugar. Chlorophyll b was more sensitive to SO₂ damage than chlorophyll a. It is suggested that peroxidase-mediated oxidation of chlorophyll is possible in SO₂-exposed plants and that this change may ultimately affect plant development.     

冬季低温下MBR与CAS工艺运行及微生物群落特征

研究了在冬季低温条件下,膜生物反应器(MBR)与传统活性污泥法(CAS)工艺运行效果及微生物群落特征的差异,对工艺出水水质和微生物活性进行了分析,并借助454焦磷酸高通量测序法对微生物群落组成和结构进行了解析.结果表明,三套对比工艺(MBR两套:高污泥浓度R1和低污泥浓度R2,CAS工艺R3)的出水总氮平均去除率分别为85.2%、56.1%、58.8%;NH+4-N的平均去除率分别为99.7%、99.7%、59.7%,比硝化速率由大到小依次为R2、R1、R3,比反硝化速率由大到小依次为R3、R1、R2,高浓度MBR污泥具有较好的耐寒特性和氨氮去除效果;从454焦磷酸测序结果看,相似性为97%时,菌群丰富度:R2>R3>R1,多样性:R2>R1>R3;MBR污泥微生物菌群的组成和丰度与CAS系统有较大不同;R1、R2、R3中主要的硝化菌为Nitrospira菌属,总相对度依次为:1.22%、1.64%、0.15%,主要的反硝化菌为Zoogloea菌属、Thauera菌属、Comamonadaceae菌属及Comamonas菌属,总相对丰度依次为:5.8%、4.52%、15.21%;低温环境下,泥龄长、污泥浓度高、TN负荷低的MBR系统有利于硝化、反硝化细菌累积,提升生物脱氮效果.     

Changes in soil respiration across a chronosequence of tallgrass prairie reconstructions

Close relationships among climatic factors and soil respiration (R_s) are commonly reported. However, variation in R_s across the landscape is compounded by site-specific differences that impede the development of spatially explicit models. Among factors that influence R_s, the effect of ecosystem age is poorly documented. We hypothesized that R_s increases with grassland age and tested this hypothesis in a chronosequence of tallgrass prairie reconstructions in central Iowa, U.S.A. We also assessed changes in root biomass, root ingrowth, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), and the strength of soil temperature and moisture in predicting R_s. We found a significant increase in total growing season R_s with prairie age (R² = 0.79), ranging from 714 g C m^?2 in the youngest reconstruction (age 4) to 939 g C m^?2 in the oldest prairie (age 12). Soil temperature was a strong predictor of intra-seasonal R_s among prairies (R² = 0.78–0.87) but mean growing season soil temperature and moisture did not relate to total R_s. The increase in R_s with age was positively correlated with root biomass (r = 0.80) and ANPP (r = 0.87) but not with root ingrowth. Our findings suggest that growing season R_s increases with tallgrass prairie age, root biomass, and ANPP during young grassland development.     

硝酸还原酶介导的NO合成参与SO2引发的拟南芥气孔运动的调节

以拟南芥为材料,研究了硝酸还原酶(NR)途径在植物适应SO2胁迫中的作用.结果表明:SO2胁迫可诱导4周龄拟南芥植株叶片NR活性增强、一氧化氮(NO)水平提高,NR活性和NO水平与SO2暴露时间呈正相关.NR抑制剂叠氮化钠(NaN3)可缓解SO2诱发的NO水平升高.RT-PCR检测发现,SO2熏气72 h时拟南芥NR途径关键基因Nia1、Nia2和NiR1均转录上调.研究还发现,SO2可诱发拟南芥野生型、突变体nia2、nia1nia2的气孔关闭,NaN3和NO清除剂c-PTIO可阻止SO2诱发的野生型和nia2气孔关闭,说明通过NR途径合成的NO参与了SO2胁迫诱发的拟南芥气孔运动调节.研究结果表明,NR活性的增强介导了SO2胁迫期间拟南芥叶片NO水平的升高,后者参与胁迫期间拟南芥气孔运动的调控,以增强拟南芥植株对SO2胁迫的适应性.     

亚高山草甸土壤呼吸的空间异质性研究

运用传统和地统计学的方法,对山西云顶山亚高山草甸的土壤呼吸、土壤温度、土壤水分和土壤有机碳的空间异质性以及它们的关系进行了分析.传统统计分析表明,土壤呼吸及环境因子均呈正态分布,变异系数在12%~24%之间,属于中等变异;土壤呼吸和土壤有机碳的相关系数(r=0.61)大于和温度(r=0.27)、水分(r=0.26)的相关系数,表明土壤有机碳对土壤呼吸空间分布的影响要远大于土壤温度和水分的影响.地统计学分析结果表明,线性模型能很好地反映土壤呼吸以及环境因子的空间结构特征.土壤呼吸、土壤温度、土壤水分及土壤有机碳的C0/(C0+C)值分别为41%、3%、77%、57%,表明土壤温度具有高度的空间自相关性,土壤呼吸和土壤有机碳具有中等程度的空间自相关性,土壤水分表现出较弱的空间自相关性,结构因素对土壤温度和土壤呼吸的空间分布起着主导作用,而随机因素对土壤水分和土壤有机碳的空间变异则起着主导作用;土壤呼吸、温度和水分的变程均为53.2 m,有机碳的变程为52.1 m;土壤呼吸和土壤温度具有较好的分形特征,存在尺度上的依赖性.分维数从大到小依次为:土壤水分(1.96)>土壤有机碳(1.95)>土壤呼吸(1.85)>土壤温度(1.60),表明土壤水分依赖于尺度的变异最小,空间分布结构最复杂,而土壤温度的空间分布格局最简单;土壤呼吸的空间分布表现出与土壤水分和有机碳相似的特点,并表现出自己的规律性.随着置信水平和估计精度的降低,土壤呼吸及其影响因子所要求的采样数量均出现较大幅度的下降.     

西藏色季拉山两种典型天然林分土壤活性有机碳组分与土壤呼吸特征研究

森林土壤活性有机碳和土壤呼吸及其组分区异是森林土壤碳循环过程研究的关键问题.青藏高原亚高山原始森林植被是我国重要的生态屏障,对全球陆地生态系统的碳收支平衡具有举足轻重的作用.本研究选取西藏色季拉山两种最典型的天然林分(急尖长苞冷杉和林芝云杉)为研究对象,测定了这两种林分的土壤活性有机碳含量和同期的土壤呼吸速率及其组分速率,分析了土壤呼吸及其组分与土壤活性有机碳组分之间的关系,结果表明,西藏色季拉山两种天然林分土壤总有机碳(TOC)、土壤颗粒有机碳(POC)、易氧化有机碳(LOC)和微生物量碳(MBC)含量均具有显著的表聚性.急尖长苞冷杉林土壤活性有机碳含量较高,其TOC、POC、LOC、MBC含量分别为57.05 g·kg-1、17.9 g·kg-1、12.2 g·kg-1和365.6 mg·kg-1.两种林分的土壤总呼吸速率(Rt)和微生物呼吸速率(Rh)差异不显著(p0.05),但它们与枯枝落叶呼吸速率(Rl)和根系呼吸速率(Rr)差异极显著(p0.01),同时,Rl和Rr之间差异极显著(p0.01).从不同林分来看,林芝云杉林的土壤总呼吸速率(Rt)和微生物呼吸速率(Rh)高,而急尖长苞冷杉林的枯枝落叶呼吸速率(Rl)和根系呼吸速率(Rr)高.两种林分土壤呼吸各组分对土壤总呼吸速率(Rt)的贡献率大小依次为:RhRlRr.两种林分均表现为微生物呼吸对总呼吸的贡献比例最高,林芝云杉为92.42%,冷杉为70.81%.两种林分的土壤活性碳组分与土壤呼吸关系最密切的是MBC,其次是LOC,最不密切的是POC.     

福建西部山地水土流失区土壤呼吸的空间异质性

土壤呼吸(Rs)作用的空间异质性对于准确估算水土流失区碳收支具有重要意义.通过对长汀县河田镇59个样地的土壤呼吸及土壤全氮(TN)、碳氮比(C/N)、有机碳含量(SOC)、叶面积指数(LAI)、土壤温度(T_(10))、土壤湿度(W)等影响因子测定的基础上,运用传统和地统计学的方法分析了土壤呼吸及其影响因子的空间异质性.结果表明,Rs及其影响因子的变异程度大小依次为:LAISOCTNRsC/NT_(10)W;Rs与T_(10)呈极显著正相关(P0.01),与TN呈显著正相关(P0.05),与其他因子的相关性不显著(P0.05);TN、SOC和T_(10)这3个因子可以解释土壤呼吸27%的空间变化.地统计学分析结果表明:Rs具有中等程度的空间自相关性,结构性因子引起的空间异质性占52.89%,与随机因素的占比(47.11%)相当;Rs及其影响因子的分维数大小依次为:RsLAIC/NT_(10)SOCWTN;Rs的空间分布格局与TN和T_(10)的空间分布格局较为一致,而与C/N、SOC、LAI的空间分布格局不同.在95%置信水平和90%估计精度下,Rs的合理采样数量为62个.     

Enantioselective effects of imazethapyr residues on Arabidopsis thaliana metabolic profile and phyllosphere microbial communities

Imazethapyr (IM) is a widely used acetolactate synthase-inhibiting chiral herbicide. It has long-term residuals that may be absorbed by the human body through the edible parts of plants, such as vegetable leaves or fruits. Here, we selected a model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, to determine the effects of R-IM and S-IM on its leaf structure, photosynthetic efficiency, and metabolites, as well as the structures of microorganisms in the phyllosphere, after 7 days of exposure. Our results indicated enantiomeric differences in plant growth between R-IM and S-IM; 133 µg/kg R-IM showed heavier inhibition of photosynthetic efficiency and greater changes to subcellular structure than S-IM. R-IM and S-IM also had different effects on metabolism and leaf microorganisms. S-IM mainly increased lipid compounds and decreased amino acids, while R-IM increased sugar accumulation. The relative abundance of Moraxellaceae human pathogenic bacteria was increased by R-IM treatment, indicating that R-IM treatment may increase leaf surface pathogenic bacteria. Our research provides a new perspective for evaluating the harmfulness of pesticide residues in soil, phyllosphere microbiome changes via the regulation of plant metabolism, and induced pathogenic bacterial accumulation risks.     

Assessment of estrogen disrupting potency in animal foodstuffs of China by combined biological and chemical analyses

Food has been documented as one of major routes for human exposure to environmental estrogens（EEs）, but information on the occurrence of EEs in animal foodstuffs is still scarce.This study analyzed estrogenic activity in 16 types of animal foodstuffs（n = 142） collected from four cities（Wuhan, Guangzhou, Wenzhou and Yantai） of China by combined yeast estrogen screen（YES） bioassay and chemical analysis. By bioassay, all samples＇ extracts were found to induce estrogenic activities and the bioassay-derived 17β-estradiol equivalent（EEQbio） ranged from 8.29 to 118.32 ng/g. In addition, the samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for further chemical analysis. 17β-Estradiol was found in all samples in this survey at levels of 0.44 to 15.04 ng/g.All samples had 33.1% detection rate of 17α-ethinylestradiol（EE2）, and the maximum concentration was 2.80 ng/g. Bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenols were detected in 83.8% and83.1% of samples, with concentrations up to 12.56 ng/g and 35.76 ng/g, respectively.However, the concentrations of estrone, diethylstilbestrol and 4-t-octylphenol were found to be below the limit of detection. A comparison of EEQbiomeasured from the YES assay and EEQchemcalculated from chemical analysis showed good correlation（R2= 0.84）. Based on the results, the YES assay can be used as a rapid pre-screening method for monitoring the levels of estrogenic activity in large numbers of animal foodstuffs, and chemical analysis used in combination can be used for the identification of specific EEs.     

大气NOx测量准确性问题分析

采用美国热电公司的NO-N02-NOx分析仪(Model 42i TL)和NOy分析仪(Model 42i NOy),在2011年1月-10月期间,对北京城市大气中的NO、NOx和NOy进行了连续在线测量.两台仪器对NO的测量结果具有较高的一致性(r＞0.998,p＜0.01),说明两台仪器测量精度基本一致.将NOy分析仪(Model 42i NOy)采样口处安装和不安装颗粒物过滤膜两种条件下测量的NOy结果与NO-NO2-NOx分析仪所测的NOx结果分别进行了相关性分析([NOy] =0.989x[NOx],R2 =0.993;[NOy] =1.134 ×[NOx],R2=0.959),得出以下两个结论:①以颗粒态硝酸盐为代表的颗粒物是造成NOx与NOy偏差的主要原因,其所占比例在10％左右;②目前Model 42i-TL所测NOx的浓度水平较真实值偏高,其测量值更接近气态NOy的浓度水平.为估算NO2测值被高估的程度(以2011年8月6日-15日观测数据为例),用扣除部分气态NOz物种(HONO、HNO3、PAN、PPN)的修正方法,推论出在夏季N02被高估约7％(R2=0.968).     

Influence of overlap between the laser beam tracks on surface quality in laser polishing of AISI H13 tool steel

Polishing by laser beam radiation is a novel manufacturing process to modify the initial surface topography in order to achieve a desired level of surface finish. The performance of laser polishing (LP) is determined by an optimum combination of several key process parameters. In this regard, the overlap between two successive laser beam tracks is one of the important LP process parameters, which has a significant effect over the final surface quality. In the current study, influence of overlap between the laser beam tracks on surface quality was experimentally investigated during the laser polishing of AISI H13 tool steel. Surface areas were polished by using four different overlap percentages (e.g. 80%, 90%, 95%, and 97.5%) while applying the same energy density. The improvement of surface quality was estimated through the analysis of line profiling surface roughness R_a, areal topography surface roughness S_a, and material ratio function. Also, individual components of the surface quality, e.g. waviness and roughness, and their evolution during LP were statistically analyzed using the power spectral density and the transfer functions. Finally, as an example of the best achieved LP result, flat surface area was polished using optimum set of the process parameters improving surface quality by 86.7% through the reduction of an areal topography surface roughness S_a from 1.35 μm to 0.18 μm.     

不同剂型高效氯氟氰菊酯对大型溞的毒性效应

为明确剂型对农药制剂毒性的影响,参照《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》的方法,测定了高效氯氟氰菊酯乳油、脲醛树脂微胶囊悬浮剂、聚脲微胶囊悬浮剂和水乳剂3种剂型4种制剂对大型溞的急性毒性,并对其体长、摄食等亚急性毒性指标进行了比较.结果表明,加工成不同剂型均会提高药剂的毒性,高效氯氟氰菊酯原药对大型溞的48 h-EC50为2.50×10-3mg·L-1,乳油、脲醛树脂微胶囊悬浮剂、聚脲微胶囊悬浮剂和水乳剂3种剂型的4种制剂的48 h-EC50分别为8.04×10-4、6.25×10-4、1.56×10-3、1.65×10-3mg·L-1,且毒性随暴露时间延长而明显增加.亚急性毒性试验结果显示,当浓度为1.00×10-4mg·L-1时,3种剂型的4种制剂均会对体长、摄食等亚急性指标产生影响,且不同剂型的高效氯氟氰菊酯对大型溞体长的影响强弱顺序为:脲醛树脂微胶囊悬浮剂乳油聚脲微胶囊悬浮剂水乳剂,对摄食的影响为:乳油脲醛树脂微胶囊悬浮剂聚脲微胶囊悬浮剂水乳剂.     

Aphid and episodic O3 injury in arugula plants (Eruca sativa Mill) grown in open-top field chambers

Aphid attacks and tropospheric ozone (O₃) cause stress and considerable damage in both wild and cultivated plants. Induced defense responses to aphid attacks and O₃ exposure share signaling pathways with common points. We investigated the plant–aphid interaction under O₃ exposure using open-top O₃ chambers. Ozone leaf injury was lower in aphid-infested plants than in aphid-free plants, although herbivore damage was not evident. Aphid population growth was strongly affected by previous exposure to O₃ but no direct effect of O₃ was observed. The possibility that during O₃ episodes, herbivores may reduce O₃ damage on host plants and that the offspring of the exposed aphids have lower population growth rates opens new and intriguing questions about potential effects of future increased tropospheric O₃ levels on plant–insect interactions.