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Journal ArticleDOI

Galling insects are bioindicators of environmental quality in a Conservation Unit

01 Dec 2014-Acta Botanica Brasilica (Sociedade Botânica do Brasil)-Vol. 28, Iss: 4, pp 594-608
TL;DR: The diversity of galls at Parque Estadual Serra Verde reflects an area with high levels of stress but with moderate botanical diversity, which can support the status of conservation of an area as an urban park, once inventories are presented.
Abstract: Galls are well distributed across the World and among plant families. Their diversity can support the status of conservation of an area as an urban park, once inventories are presented. These inventories also help to understand the morphological patterns of the galls, based on their most common shape, color, host botanical families, inducers and galled organs. This study is about an inventory of galls at Parque Estadual Serra Verde, Brazil. This conservation unit is an urban park strongly anthropized in a transition area of Cerrado and Mata Atlântica. Galls from four different trails were observed, and collected monthly during one year. The terminology morphospecies was used to distinguish the galls because the identification of the inducers were not always possible. Seventy five morphospecies of galls belonging to 43 host plant species of 24 botanical families were observed. Mostly of the galls was induced by Diptera:Cecidomyiidae, in Fabaceae and Myrtaceae. The most common traits were the globoid shape and green color. The leaves were the most frequent galled organ and followed by the stems. All these tendencies had been already observed in other inventories. Comparing current results with other studies at similar areas, we can assume that the Parque Estadual Serra Verde is very important for conservation. Urban green areas are subject to high disturbance and degradation but also increase the quality of life for the population inhabiting the areas nearby. The diversity of galls at Parque Estadual Serra Verde reflects an area with high levels of stress but with moderate botanical diversity. These features make this protected area an important site for the continuous conservation and regeneration, and highlight the environmental value of Parque Estadual Serra Verde.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The animal-induced galls have a striking anatomical diversity, concerning several patterns, which were reunited herein, and culminates in extant gall structural diversity.
Abstract: Galls are neoformed structures induced by specific animals, fungi, bacteria, virus or some parasitic plants on their host plant organs. Developmental processes are well known in Agrobacterium tumefasciens galls, but the animal-induced galls have a striking anatomical diversity, concerning several patterns, which were reunited herein. Anatomical traits observed in animal-induced galls involve manipulation of plant morphogenesis in convergent ways. Nematode, mite and insect galls usually contain homogeneous storage parenchyma and develop due to hyperplasia and cell hypertrophy. The development of typical nutritive tissues, giant cells, or hypertrophied vascular bundles may occur. Some other anatomical features may be usually restricted to galls induced by specific taxa, but they may eventually be related to the developmental potentialities of the host plants. The combination of distinct morphogenetic peculiarities in each gall system culminates in extant gall structural diversity. Convergent anatomical traits are observed according to the feeding mode of the gall inducers, representing potentiation or inhibition of similar events of host plant morphogenesis and cell redifferentiation, independent of gall-inducing taxa.

42 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...…psylloids, lepidopterans, hymenopterans, and cecidomyiids (Raman & Ananthakrishnan, 1983; Inbar et al., 1995; Nyman et al., 2000; Souza et al., 2000; Arduin et al., 2005; Rancic et al., 2006; Álvarez et al., 2009, 2016; Magalhães et al., 2014; Portugal-Santana & Isaias, 2014; Bedetti et al., 2013)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the main goal of research on bioindicators is to identify species that would reliably indicate disturbances in the environment, and the main focus is to find species that are reliable indicators of environmental pollution.
Abstract: Bioindicators have been generating great interest in environmental pollution research The main goal of research on bioindicators is to identify species that would reliably indicate disturbances in

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 2017-Flora
TL;DR: Such long-distance effects indicate that D. gallaeformans is a peculiar colonial parasite, which may compensate the damages of gall inducing mechanisms by favoring, at least partially, its host plant fitness.

18 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Mar 2019
TL;DR: The first register of Bauhinia holophylla as host plants of Cecidomyiidae is presented, and the occurrence of Rochadiplosis tibouchinae Tavares and Couridiplosis vena is expanded to São Paulo State.
Abstract: Herein, we studied the occurrence of insect galls from natural vegetation around the Itambe Cave, Altinopolis, SP, Brazil. A sampling effort of 7.5 hours resulted in 41 gall morphotypes on 21 host plant species from 14 families. The richest families of host plants in morphotypes were Fabaceae (N = 11), Euphorbiaceae (N = 7), and Malpighiaceae (N = 5). Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (N = 8), Croton floribundus Spreng. (N = 7), Diplopterys pubipetala (A. Juss.) W.R. Anderson & C.C. Davis (N = 5), and Bauhinia holophylla (Bong.) Steud. (N = 4) were the super host plant species. Among the gall makers obtained, cecidomyiids were reared in 81% of cases and Hemiptera (Diaspididae), Hymenoptera (Eurytomidae), Coleoptera (Apion sp./Apionidae), and Lepidoptera in 4.5% of cases, each. The parasitoids belong to the Chalcidoidea superfamily (Hymenoptera). One new species of Camptoneuromyiia (Cecidomyiidae) was found in Smilax oblongifolia Pohl ex Griseb. (Smilacaceae) as inquiline and a new species of Lestodiplosis in Diplopterys pubipetala (Malpighiaceae) was a predator. We also present the first register of Bauhinia holophylla as host plants of Cecidomyiidae, and we expand the occurrence of Rochadiplosis tibouchinae Tavares and Couridiplosis vena to Sao Paulo State. The results of this paper are a continuation of the description of gall morphotypes from the vegetation in Northeastern Sao Paulo State, and they also increase knowledge about the diversity of host plant and gall-maker associations in the Neotropical region.

11 citations


Cites result from "Galling insects are bioindicators o..."

  • ...Our results indicated that the richer the host family, the richer their gall morphotypes, corroborating data previously obtained in the Neotropical region (Gagné, 1994; Araújo, 2011; Santana & Isaias, 2014)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Despite the environmental stresses, the xeric features of the dunes of the ASP, and the high local plant diversity, the diversity of galling herbivores were low and the environmental effect seems to be neutral, either for the host plants or for the generation of gall morphotypes.
Abstract: The Atlantic Coast Restinga is a mosaic of plant communities with a distinct floristic and phytophysi- ognomy, exposed to luminous, thermal, and saline stresses. Plants of the restinga must have special features commonly associated to xeric environments, and are expected to host a high diversity of galling herbivores. We studied gall morphotypes, and recorded the diversity of galls on plants growing in sand dunes in a remnant area of restinga (Acarai State Park) in Sao Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The sampling was done in four plots (250 x 5 m), constituting a total area of 5 000 m², during April, May and June. Plant branches (n ≥ 5) with galls were sampled, identified, and the galls were photographed. The galls were classified into eight morphotypes, associated to eight host plants constituting 15 host plants - galling herbivores systems. The identification of the gall - inducers was based on literature, and on the species-specific feature of this kind of host plant-gall inducers interaction. There was a predominance of leaf galls, green in color. The most common morphotypes were the globoid, lenticular, conical, rosette, marginal, and fusiform galls, similarly to the inven- tories performed on other Brazilian biomes. Despite the environmental stresses, the xeric features of the dunes of the ASP, and the high local plant diversity, the diversity of galling herbivores were low. Varronia curassavica (Boraginaceae), Smilax campestris (Smilacaceae), and Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae) were superhosts of galling herbivores in the dunes, with about 70 % of the total associated parasites. The environmental effect seems to be neutral, either for the host plants or for the generation of gall morphotypes. Alternatively, the scarce nutritional resources could be restrictive for the establishment of the galling herbivores inside plant tissues. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (4): 959-970. Epub 2015 December 01.

10 citations

References
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01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: Among alI habitats studied, the Brazilian cerrado has the richest fauna of galling insects and the plant most attacked was Baccharis concinna (Asteraceae) which supported fifteen galling species.
Abstract: During the past decade many studies have been carried out on the distribution of gall- forming insects along gradients of temperature, humidity, elevation, and latitude. Over 300 localities have already been sampled around the world representing numerous vegetation types such as shrubland, desert, chaparral, cerrado, savanna, tropical rain forest, taiga, tundra, and pine forest using sound and field-tested methods. The peak of species richness has been found at low and dry elevations, in areas of sclerophyllous vegetation. Nevertheless, gallers are most species rich and abundant in dl'\ kbitats. Among alI habitats studied, the Brazilian cerrado has the richest fauna of galling insects. At 900 m altitude in a cerrado area at the base of the Serra do Cipo in south-east Brazil, we found the richest galling insect fauna (forty- six species in a census of forty-five trees, 100 shrubs and 1000 herbs per site). At this elevation, the soil is rocky and sandy, nutrient-poor, and the vegetation is dominated by woody, sclerophyllous plants, with few herbs. The plant most attacked was Baccharis concinna (Asteraceae) which supported fifteen galling species.

72 citations


"Galling insects are bioindicators o..." refers background in this paper

  • ...On the other hand, in no urban areas such as Serra do Cipó and Serra de São José, which are conservation units with high biodiversity 92 and 137 species of galls, respectively, were found (Coelho et al. 2009, Maia & Fernandes 2004)....

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  • ...…conditions of the habitat, anthropogenic disturbances (urbanization), and biogeographic gradients (elevation, latitude, temperature and humidity) are the main factors that determine the diversity and distribution of galling herbivores (Fernandes 1992, Lara & Fernandes 1996, Fernandes et al. 1997)....

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  • ...This is the case of Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga (Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001), Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (Lara & Fernandes 1996, Coelho et al. 2009), Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra de São José (Maia & Fernandes 2004), Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Bulcão (Fernandes & Negreiros 2006), Parque Nacional Vale do Catimbau (Silva et al. 2011), Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin (Santos-Mendonça et al. 2007), Parque Estadual Pireneus (Araújo et al. 2007), Reserva Biológica Estadual da Praia do Sul (Maia & Oliveira, 2010), and a range of conservation units within the Serra do Espinhaço (Carneiro et al. 2009)....

    [...]

  • ...This is the case of Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga (Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001), Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (Lara & Fernandes 1996, Coelho et al. 2009), Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra de São José (Maia & Fernandes 2004), Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Bulcão…...

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A low similarity in galling insect species was observed among the three sampled physiognomies - the highest similarity index was observed between "cerrado" and "campo sujo" (SΦrensen index = 0.20), indicating that the presence of rare species of galling insects might be common in these environments.
Abstract: Studies on the communities of galling insects and their host plants were performed in three "cerrado" physiognomies that occur in Minas Gerais: "campo sujo", "cerrado" sensu strictu, and "cerradao". Galls and host plants were collected along transects in a total of 3,000 herbs, 300 shrubs and 135 trees in each physiognomy. Ninety two species of galling insects (morphotypes) on 62 host plant species of 28 families were found. The highest galling insect richness was observed in the "cerrado". Approximately 75.0% of galling insects belonged to the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). The highest gall frequency was found on leaves (58.70%) of the host plants, and was glabrous (83.70%). Most gall shape were elliptic (30.43%). A low similarity in galling insect species was observed among the three sampled physiognomies - the highest similarity index was observed between "cerrado" and "campo sujo" (SΦrensen index = 0.20), indicating that the presence of rare species of galling insects might be common in these environments.

70 citations


"Galling insects are bioindicators o..." refers background in this paper

  • ...This is the case of Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga (Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001), Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (Lara & Fernandes 1996, Coelho et al. 2009), Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra de São José (Maia & Fernandes 2004), Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Bulcão (Fernandes & Negreiros 2006), Parque Nacional Vale do Catimbau (Silva et al. 2011), Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin (Santos-Mendonça et al. 2007), Parque Estadual Pireneus (Araújo et al. 2007), Reserva Biológica Estadual da Praia do Sul (Maia & Oliveira, 2010), and a range of conservation units within the Serra do Espinhaço (Carneiro et al. 2009)....

    [...]

  • ...This is the case of Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga (Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001), Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (Lara & Fernandes 1996, Coelho et al. 2009), Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra de São José (Maia & Fernandes 2004), Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Bulcão…...

    [...]

  • ...Among the botanical families, the most affected by this kind of interactions are the Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Myrtaceae, Malpighiaceae and Melastomataceae (Fernandes et al. 1997, Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001, Maia & Fernandes 2004)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
01 May 1996
TL;DR: Agarwal et al. as mentioned in this paper found that at 900 m altitude in a cerrado area at the base of the Serra do Cipo in south-east Brazil, they found the richest galling insect fauna (forty- six species in a census of forty-five trees, 100 shrubs and 1000 herbs per site).
Abstract: During the past decade many studies have been carried out on the distribution of gall- forming insects along gradients of temperature, humidity, elevation, and latitude. Over 300 localities have already been sampled around the world representing numerous vegetation types such as shrubland, desert, chaparral, cerrado, savanna, tropical rain forest, taiga, tundra, and pine forest using sound and field-tested methods. The peak of species richness has been found at low and dry elevations, in areas of sclerophyllous vegetation. Nevertheless, gallers are most species rich and abundant in dl'\ kbitats. Among alI habitats studied, the Brazilian cerrado has the richest fauna of galling insects. At 900 m altitude in a cerrado area at the base of the Serra do Cipo in south-east Brazil, we found the richest galling insect fauna (forty- six species in a census of forty-five trees, 100 shrubs and 1000 herbs per site). At this elevation, the soil is rocky and sandy, nutrient-poor, and the vegetation is dominated by woody, sclerophyllous plants, with few herbs. The plant most attacked was Baccharis concinna (Asteraceae) which supported fifteen galling species.

70 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new hypothesis is outlined, suggesting that chemically protected galls which are also conspicuous are aposematic, and this paper discusses predictions, alternative hypotheses and experimental tests of this hypothesis.
Abstract: Galls are abnormal plant growth induced by various parasitic organisms, mainly insects. They serve as “incubators” for the developing insects in which they gain nutrition and protection from both abiotic factors and natural enemies. Galls are typically armed with high levels of defensive secondary metabolites. Conspicuousness by color, size and shape is a common gall trait. Many galls are colorful (red, yellow etc.) and therefore can be clearly distinguished from the surrounding host plant organs. Here we outlined a new hypothesis, suggesting that chemically protected galls which are also conspicuous are aposematic. We discuss predictions, alternative hypotheses and experimental tests of this hypothesis.

67 citations


"Galling insects are bioindicators o..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...This color variation has also been observed by Fernandes, Neto and Martins (1988), Inbar et al. (2010), and Dias et al. (2013)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The occurrence of numerous large plastoglobules in the galled tissues seemed to be related to oxidative stress and to the recovery of the thylakoid membrane systems, and the maintenance of the ETR(MAX) values indicated the existence of an efficient strategy to maintain similar photosynthesis rates in galled and non-galled tissues.

67 citations