Insect Herbivores and Leaf Damage along Successional and Vertical Gradients in a Tropical Dry Forest

Biotropica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederico S. Neves ◽  
Jhonathan O. Silva ◽  
Mário M. Espírito-Santo ◽  
Geraldo W. Fernandes
2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 623-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
JO Silva ◽  
FS Neves

Goniorrhachis marginata Taub. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) is a tree species found in Brazilian tropical dry forests that retain their leaves during the dry season. That being, we addressed the following question: i) How do insect diversity (sap-sucking and chewing), leaf herbivory and defensive traits (tannin and leaf sclerophylly) vary on the evergreen tree species G. marginata between seasons? The abundance of sap-sucking insects was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. However, we did not verify any difference in the species richness and abundance of chewing insects between seasons. Leaf herbivory was higher in the rainy season, whereas leaf sclerophylly was higher in the dry season. However, herbivory was not related to sclerophylly. Insect herbivores likely decrease their folivory activity during the dry season due to life history patterns or changes in behaviour, possibly entering diapause or inactivity during this period. Therefore, G. marginata acts as a likely keystone species, serving as a moist refuge for the insect fauna during the dry season in tropical dry forest, and the presence of this evergreen species is crucial to conservation strategies of this threatened ecosystem.


Mycotaxon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Contreras-Pacheco ◽  
Ricardo Valenzuela ◽  
Tania Raymundo ◽  
Leticia Pacheco

2021 ◽  
Vol 490 ◽  
pp. 119127
Author(s):  
Tobias Fremout ◽  
Evert Thomas ◽  
Kelly Tatiana Bocanegra-González ◽  
Carolina Adriana Aguirre-Morales ◽  
Anjuly Tatiana Morillo-Paz ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 542-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mertens ◽  
J. Germer ◽  
J. A. Siqueira Filho ◽  
J. Sauerborn

Abstract Spondias tuberosa Arr., a fructiferous tree endemic to the northeast Brazilian tropical dry forest called Caatinga, accounts for numerous benefits for its ecosystem as well as for the dwellers of the Caatinga. The tree serves as feed for pollinators and dispersers as well as fodder for domestic ruminants, and is a source of additional income for local smallholders and their families. Despite its vantages, it is facing several man-made and natural threats, and it is suspected that S. tuberosa could become extinct. Literature review suggests that S. tuberosa suffers a reduced regeneration leading to population decrease. At this juncture S. tuberosa cannot be considered threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Categories and Criteria, as it has not yet been assessed and hampered generative regeneration is not considered in the IUCN assessment. The combination of threats, however, may have already caused an extinction debt for S. tuberosa. Due to the observed decline in tree density, a thorough assessment of the S. tuberosa population is recommended, as well as a threat assessment throughout the entire Caatinga.


Author(s):  
Kátia F. Rito ◽  
Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez ◽  
Jeannine Cavender-Bares ◽  
Edgar E. Santo-Silva ◽  
Gustavo Souza ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. BRODRIBB ◽  
N. M. HOLBROOK ◽  
E. J. EDWARDS ◽  
M. V. GUTIÉRREZ

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