scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
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.

Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

Citations
More filters
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)....

    [...]

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)....

    [...]

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
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The alterations in gall structure and color were related to the gradual decreasing in galling stimuli, and a notable reduction in the contents of all pigments in the galls when compared to non-galled leaves, especially for total anthocyanins in green galls.

44 citations


"Galling insects are bioindicators o..." refers background or 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)....

    [...]

  • ...…be of aposematic nature to the gall system, as reported for Psidium myrtoides-Nothotrioza myrtoides (Carneiro et al. 2013); it can also be related to the presence or absence of gall inducers, inquilines and parasitoids, as discovered by Dias et al. (2013) for Schinus polygamous-Calophya duvauae....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first report of galls in four species of host plants for the Neotropical region is reported, with Leguminosae (9), Styracaceae (6) and Ulmaceae (4) having the greatest number of gall morphotypes.
Abstract: In an area of seasonal semideciduous forest situated on Campus Samambaia of the Universidade Federal de Goias in Goiânia, Goias 34 types of insect galls were collected during the period 2005-2007. The galls occurred in 20 species of plants from 12 families, with Leguminosae (9), Styracaceae (6) and Ulmaceae (4) having the greatest number of gall morphotypes. Leaf and stem galls were the most widespread. Concerning gall morphology, the following were collected: globoid, discoidal, ellipsoidal, cylindrical and conical. The colour varied from green to yellow, brown and red. The galls were isolated or grouped and glabrous or pilose. The principal inducers were Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) and the parasitoids found were of the families Eulophidae, Torymidae, Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). This is the first report of galls in four species of host plants for the Neotropical region.

43 citations


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

  • ...Moreover, some species of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Thysanoptera are also reported as gall inducers (Fernandes et al. 1997, Araújo et al. 2007, Santos et al. 2010)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Thirty-six morphotypes of insect galls were recorded for the first time in the Reserva Biologica Estadual da Praia do Sul, being the majority of them comprised of leaf galls.
Abstract: Trinta e seis morfotipos de galhas de insetos foram registrados pela primeira vez para a Reserva Biologica Estadual da Praia do Sul (Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, RJ), sendo a maioria foliar (64%). Galhas desenvolvidas no caule e na gema tambem foram encontradas (25 e 14%, respectivamente). As Myrtaceae representaram a familia de planta com maior riqueza de galhas. Mikania sp. (Asteraceae) e Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae) foram as especies vegetais super-hospedeiras. Os Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) destacaram-se como o principal grupo galhador, responsaveis por 75% dos morfotipos. Galhas de Hemiptera e Lepidoptera tambem foram registradas (11 e 2,8%, respectivamente).

42 citations

01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: Most insect galls (82.6%) were caused by the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) and leaves were the most frequently galled plant organs (51.7%).
Abstract: .ABSTRACT. The dtstribution of galls formed by insects on several host plants in xeric and mesic habitats was studied rn severallocalities of the Jequitinhonha Valley (Espinhaço Mountains) .northeast of Minas Gerais State; 236 morphologically distinct insect galls were obtained. Galls were found on several organs of 134 plant species of 127 families. Most insect galls (82.6%) were caused by the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). Leaves were th'e most frequently galled plant organs (51.7%). Gall externa1 morphology was highly variable. but th~ most common shape was. elliptical, of single occurrence and

41 citations


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

  • ...Even though the Asteraceae and the Melastomataceae tend to host most of the galls within several surveyed areas (Gonçalves-Alvim Acta bot. bras....

    [...]

  • ...…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)....

    [...]

  • ...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)....

    [...]

  • ...Moreover, some species of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Thysanoptera are also reported as gall inducers (Fernandes et al. 1997, Araújo et al. 2007, Santos et al. 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...The host plant species with the most homogeneous temporal distribution were Celtis pubescens (Cannabaceae), Myrcia splendens (Myrtaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Luehea candicans (Malvaceae), Byrsonima sp. (Malpighiaceae), Trichilia lepidota (Meliaceae), Miconia albicans, and Miconia ibaguensis (Melastomataceae)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of this study contribute to existing knowledge richness of galling insects and host-plant diversity in the altitudinal wetland forests of Northeastern Brazil.
Abstract: We report on the richness of galling insects in the altitudinal wetland forests of Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. We found 80 distinct types of insect galls on 49 species of host plants belonging to 28 families and 35 genera. Most of the galled plant species belong to Nyctaginaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Sapindaceae and Myrtaceae. The most common gall were spheroid and globoid; most galls were glabrous, predominantly green and with one chamber, and on the leaves. Most galls were induced by Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). The results of this study contribute to existing knowledge richness of galling insects and host-plant diversity in the altitudinal wetland forests of Northeastern Brazil.

38 citations