Diversity of galling insects in Styrax pohlii (Styracaceae): edge effect and use as bioindicators.
Impacts of forest fragmentation and edge effect on plant-herbivores interactions are relatively unknown, and the relationships between galling insects and their host plants are very susceptible to environmental variations. The goal of our study was to test the edge effect hypothesis for galling insects associated with Styrax pohlii (Styracaceae) host plant. Samplings were conducted at a fragment of semi-deciduous forest in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Thirty host plant individuals (15 at fragment edge and 15 in its interior) were sampled in July of 2007; in each plant, 10 apical branches were collected at the top, middle and bottom crown levels. Our results supported the prediction of greater richness of gall morphotypes in the edge habitat compared with remnant interior. In a similar way, gall abundance and frequency of attacked leaves were also greater in the fragment edge. These findings consequently suggest a positive response of galling insect diversity to edge effect; in the Saint-Hilaire forest, this effect probably operates through the changes in microclimatic conditions of edge habitats, which results in an increased hygrothermal stress, a determinant factor to distribution patterns of galling insects. We also concluded that these organisms could be employed as biological indicators (i) because of their host-specificity, (ii) they are sensitive to changes in plant quality, and (iii) present dissimilar and specific responses to local variation in habitat conditions.
Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, 74001-970 Goiânia, Goiás, CP 131, Brazil. walterbioaraujo@yahoo.com.br
Walter Santos
WS
de Araújol
Genimar Rebouças
GR
Julião
Bárbara Araújo
BA
Ribeiro
Isadora Portes Abraham
IP
Silva
Benedito Baptista
BB
dos Santos
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D010941:Plant Tumors / Q000469:parasitology; D032362:Styrax / Q000469:parasitology*