scholarly journals Plant Killing by Mutualistic Ants Increases the Density of Host Species Seedlings in the Dry Forest of Costa Rica

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Amador-Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Additional Food ◽  
Acacia Ants ◽  
Acacia Collinsii ◽  
Pseudomyrmex Spinicola

Some species of plant-mutualistic ants kill the vegetation growing in the vicinities of their host plant, creating an area of bare ground (clearing). The reduced competition in the clearing may facilitate the establishment of host species sprouts (clones and seedlings), which in turn benefits the ants with additional food and shelter (“sprout-establishment hypothesis”). To test this hypothesis, the density and origin ofAcacia collinsiisprouts growing inside clearings and in the vicinities of acacia plants without clearings were compared. Also, to assess the pruning selectivity of acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex spinicola), seedlings were transplanted into clearings. The reaction of ants towards unrewarding acacia seedlings (without food and shelter) was also tested. The density of acacia sprouts growing inside clearings was almost twice that in the vicinities of host plants without clearings, and sprouts were inhabited by nestmates of the colony that made the clearing. Clones and seedlings were found in similar proportions in the clearings, and ants did not kill unrewarding acacia seedlings or seedlings unrelated to their host. The benefit reported here for the ants could be in conflict with the host plant, especially when the plant has rhizomal reproduction.

scholarly journals Expression differences in Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) females reared on different aphid host species

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel I. Ballesteros ◽  
Jürgen Gadau ◽  
Fabrice Legeai ◽  
Angelica Gonzalez-Gonzalez ◽  
Blas Lavandero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Differentially Expressed Genes ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Aphidius Ervi ◽  
Host Acceptance ◽  
Aphid Host

The molecular mechanisms that allow generalist parasitoids to exploit many, often very distinct hosts are practically unknown. The wasp Aphidius ervi, a generalist koinobiont parasitoid of aphids, was introduced from Europe into Chile in the late 1970s to control agriculturally important aphid species. A recent study showed significant differences in host preference and host acceptance (infectivity) depending on the host A. ervi were reared on. In contrast, no genetic differentiation between A. ervi populations parasitizing different aphid species and aphids of the same species reared on different host plants was found in Chile. Additionally, the same study did not find any fitness effects in A. ervi if offspring were reared on a different host as their mothers. Here, we determined the effect of aphid host species (Sitobion avenae versus Acyrthosiphon pisum reared on two different host plants alfalfa and pea) on the transcriptome of adult A. ervi females. We found a large number of differentially expressed genes (between host species: head: 2,765; body: 1,216; within the same aphid host species reared on different host plants: alfalfa versus pea: head 593; body 222). As expected, the transcriptomes from parasitoids reared on the same host species (pea aphid) but originating from different host plants (pea versus alfalfa) were more similar to each other than the transcriptomes of parasitoids reared on a different aphid host and host plant (head: 648 and 1,524 transcripts; body: 566 and 428 transcripts). We found several differentially expressed odorant binding proteins and olfactory receptor proteins in particular, when we compared parasitoids from different host species. Additionally, we found differentially expressed genes involved in neuronal growth and development as well as signaling pathways. These results point towards a significant rewiring of the transcriptome of A. ervi depending on aphid-plant complex where parasitoids develop, even if different biotypes of a certain aphid host species (A. pisum) are reared on the same host plant. This difference seems to persist even after the different wasp populations were reared on the same aphid host in the laboratory for more than 50 generations. This indicates that either the imprinting process is very persistent or there is enough genetic/allelic variation between A. ervi populations. The role of distinct molecular mechanisms is discussed in terms of the formation of host fidelity.

scholarly journals Insights into Super-host Plant Species of Galling Insects in the Neotropical Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-73
Author(s):  
Julio M. Grandez-Rios ◽  
Carlos G. H. Pizango ◽  
Walter S. de Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Host Plant Species ◽  
Insect Gall ◽  
Definition Of

Background: The term ‘super host’ plant is often used in the literature surrounding plant-galling interactions, but the different contexts in which the term is used generates doubt and confusion due to the absence of a systematic definition of the term’s meaning. Objective: In this study, we used 60 well-defined plant-galling assemblages to propose a systematic definition of super-host plants at the local and regional level. In addition, we investigated factors that explain the number of galling species per host plant at different geographic scales. Methods: Plant-galling assemblages were compiled from an extensive literature review on insect gall inventories carried out in Brazil. Results: We found 888 host plant species belonging to 94 families and 340 genera hosting 2,376 insect gall morphotypes. At a local scale, 33.2% of host plant species harbored one insect gall morphotype and 12.2% hosted two gall morphotypes, making up 45.4% of the host plant species in each locality. At the regional scale, 51.5% of host plant species harbored one insect gall morphotype, and 17.9% of host plant species hosted two gall morphotypes, corresponding to 69.4% of all host plant species. Based on the average number of galling species per plant species, we classified the plant species into: 1) Host species; 2) Multi-host species and 3) Super-host species. The super-host plant species that showed the greatest richness of gall morphotypes at the local level were Baccharis reticularia and Adenocalymma neoflavidu. Furthermore, we found a positive relationship between plant life-form architectural complexity and the number of galling species at the local level. At the regional scale, we registered five super-host species (Guapira opposita, Protium heptaphyllum, Copaifera langsdorffii, Myrcia splendens, and Byrsonima sericea) which hosted 21 or more insect gall morphotypes. The number of galling species per host plant species at the regional scale was influenced positively by geographic distribution rank and number of biomes in which each species of the plant occurs. Conclusion: The present study stands out as the first of its kind to provide a systematic standardization for the super-host plants and to investigate factors influencing these species.

Effect of different host plants on the growth of the root hemiparasite Santalum acuminatum (quandong)

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth R. Loveys ◽  
Stephen D. Tyerman ◽  
Brian R. Loveys
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Root Hemiparasite ◽  
Atriplex Nummularia ◽  
Commercial Crop ◽  
Indigenous Foods

In recent years, the root hemiparasite Santalum acuminatum (quandong) has become an increasingly important commercial crop within the indigenous foods market. Relatively little is known of the significance of the host species on quandong growth and development. This paper presents data from a glasshouse pot experiment showing the effect of 4 different host species on the growth of quandong. Quandong growth, as measured by height and dry-mass accumulation, was significantly improved when grown in the presence of a host plant compared with being grown alone. Quandong grown with a host achieved an average height of 45 cm, while those grown alone grew up to only 37 cm. The host species also had an impact on the growth of quandong. Quandong had no detrimental effect on the growth of its host plant. Quandong grown with Myoporum parvifolium and Atriplex nummularia accumulated a significantly greater amount of dry biomass than quandong grown alone.

Effects of habitat disturbance on ant community composition and seed dispersal by ants in a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara J. Zelikova ◽  
Michael D. Breed
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Habitat Disturbance ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Ant Community ◽  
Dispersal Distances ◽  
Acacia Collinsii

Abstract:Habitat alteration can have far-reaching consequences for natural communities and can alter existing species interactions in profound ways. Working in a tropical dry forest ecosystem in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica, we measured seed removals and seed dispersal distances forAcacia collinsiiand papaya seeds to determine if habitat disturbance affects ant community composition and the associated interactions between ants and seeds. Two hundred and forty experimental seed depots were observed in four sites that differed in land-use history and disturbance severity: secondary forest, forest edge,Acacia collinsiiedge, and open-pasture. Both seed removals and average dispersal distances achieved by ants differed among habitats. Habitat disturbance did not negatively affect seed removals by ants in our study; seed removals were highest in the most disturbed habitat, the open pasture (38.3% of seeds removed within 2 h). Ant community composition and the relative abundance of key seed dispersers also differed among habitats. In all sites combined, ten species of ant were observed dispersing seeds, with two species,Pheidole fallaxandEctatomma ruidum, in combination being responsible for 92% of all observed seed removals. The abundance ofP. fallaxandE. ruidumdiffered among habitats, withE. ruidumbeing the most abundant ant species collected in the open-pasture habitat andP. fallaxbeing the most abundant in the edge habitats.Pheidole fallaxants dispersed seeds significantly further (mean ± SD = 2.11 ± 1.35 m, maximum = 5.2 m) than didE. ruidum(mean ± SD = 0.7 ± 0.81 m, maximum = 3.85 m), a difference we attribute to recruitment behaviour and not body size. Habitat disturbance thus alters the ant community and the relative abundance of key seed-dispersing ant species, with cascading effects on seed removals and seed dispersal distances.

scholarly journals Two new reared species of Heteropteron Brullé (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) from northwest Costa Rica, with the first definitive host records for the genus

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Zhu Dabek ◽  
James B. Whitfield ◽  
Winnie Hallwachs ◽  
Daniel H. Janzen
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Definitive Host ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽  
Roupala Montana

Two new Costa Rican species of the braconid parasitoid wasp subfamily Cardiochilinae, Heteropteron kidonoi Dabek & Whitfield and Heteropteron hasegawai Dabek & Whitfield, are described and illustrated from dry forest in the Area de Conservacion Guanacastae, along with data on rearing from their hosts. Heteropteron kidonoi is a solitary endoparasitoid of Stenoma cathosiota (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae) on Roupala montana (Proteaceae), while H. hasegawai is a solitary endoparasitoid of Carthara abrupta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on the same host plant, but typically at slightly higher elevation localities. Diagnostic characters are provided to distinguish these two new species from each other, and also from the three previously decsribed species of Heteropteron. Heteropteron kidonoi and H. hasegawai are the first species of Heteropteron to have any host data, and also are the first to be reported in Costa Rica.

scholarly journals Effect of host plant on the life history of the carnation tortrix moth Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Marcin W. Zielonka ◽  
Tom W. Pope ◽  
Simon R. Leather
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Pupal Weight ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Host Plant Species ◽  
The Uk

Abstract The carnation tortrix moth, Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, [1799]) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the most economically important insect species affecting the horticultural industry in the UK. The larvae consume foliage, flowers or fruits, and/or rolls leaves together with silken threads, negatively affecting the growth and/or aesthetics of the crop. In order to understand the polyphagous behaviour of this species within an ornamental crop habitat, we hypothesized that different host plant species affect its life history traits differently. This study investigated the effects of the host plant species on larval and pupal durations and sizes, and fecundity (the number of eggs and the number and size of egg clutches). At 20°C, 60% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod larvae developed 10, 14, 20 and 36 days faster when reared on Christmas berry, Photinia (Rosaceae), than on cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus (Rosaceae), New Zealand broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (Griseliniaceae), Mexican orange, Choisya ternata (Rutaceae), and firethorn, Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae), respectively. Female pupae were 23.8 mg heavier than male pupae, and pupal weight was significantly correlated with the duration of larval development. The lowest and the highest mean numbers of eggs were produced by females reared on Pyracantha (41) and Photinia (202), respectively. Clutch size differed significantly among moths reared on different host plants, although the total number of eggs did not differ. This study showed that different ornamental host plants affect the development of C. pronubana differently. Improved understanding of the influence of host plant on the moth's life history parameters measured here will help in determining the economic impact that this species may have within the ornamental plant production environment, and may be used in developing more accurate crop protection methodologies within integrated pest management of this insect.

scholarly journals Root-associated entomopathogenic fungi manipulate host plants to attract herbivorous insects

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Belén Cotes ◽  
Gunda Thöming ◽  
Carol V. Amaya-Gómez ◽  
Ondřej Novák ◽  
Christian Nansen
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Delia Radicum ◽  
Host Plant Selection ◽  
Herbivorous Insects ◽  
Herbivorous Insect ◽  
Insect Performance ◽  
Leaf Reflectance

AbstractRoot-associated entomopathogenic fungi (R-AEF) indirectly influence herbivorous insect performance. However, host plant-R-AEF interactions and R-AEF as biological control agents have been studied independently and without much attention to the potential synergy between these functional traits. In this study, we evaluated behavioral responses of cabbage root flies [Delia radicum L. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)] to a host plant (white cabbage cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba cv. Castello L.) with and without the R-AEF Metarhizium brunneum (Petch). We performed experiments on leaf reflectance, phytohormonal composition and host plant location behavior (behavioral processes that contribute to locating and selecting an adequate host plant in the environment). Compared to control host plants, R-AEF inoculation caused, on one hand, a decrease in reflectance of host plant leaves in the near-infrared portion of the radiometric spectrum and, on the other, an increase in the production of jasmonic, (+)-7-iso-jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine and salicylic acid in certain parts of the host plant. Under both greenhouse and field settings, landing and oviposition by cabbage root fly females were positively affected by R-AEF inoculation of host plants. The fungal-induced change in leaf reflectance may have altered visual cues used by the cabbage root flies in their host plant selection. This is the first study providing evidence for the hypothesis that R-AEF manipulate the suitability of their host plant to attract herbivorous insects.

Vannella epipetala n. sp. Isolated from the Leaf Surface of Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae) Growing in the Dry Forest of Costa Rica

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 522-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINDA A. AMARAL-ZETTLER ◽  
JEFFREY COLE ◽  
ABBY D. LAATSCH ◽  
THOMAS A. NERAD ◽  
O. ROGER ANDERSON ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Leaf Surface ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Spondias Mombin

scholarly journals Redescription of Charaxicephaloides polyorchis Groschaft and Tenora 1978 (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) from the green turtle Chelonia mydas in Costa Rica

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Santoro ◽  
P. Brandmayr ◽  
E. Greiner ◽  
J. Morales ◽  
B. Rodríguez-Ortíz
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Green Turtle ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
New Information

AbstractCharaxicephaloides polyorchis Groschaft and Tenora, 1978 is redescribed on the basis of specimens collected from the stomach of green turtles Chelonia mydas in Costa Rica. Our specimens are consistent with the original description which was based on four flukes from the same host species from the northwest coast of Cuba. Our redescription provides a new range of variations and adds new information on this species. This represents only the second record of C. polyorchis in green turtles.

The ability of rhizosphere bacteria isolated from nematode host and non-host plants to influence the hatch in vitro of the two potato cyst nematode species, Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida

Nematology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Aileen Ryan ◽  
Peter Jones
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Cyst Nematode ◽  
Potato Cyst Nematode ◽  
Globodera Pallida ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacillus Spp

AbstractSeventy bacteria, isolated from the rhizosphere of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) host plant, potato, were cultured in the presence and absence of potato root leachate (PRL) and the resultant culture filtrates were analysed for their ability to affect the hatch in vitro of the two PCN species. Of the isolates tested, nine had a significant effect on PCN hatch. Six affected Globodera pallida hatch and three affected G. rostochiensis hatch. Five of the isolates significantly increased hatch only when cultured in the presence of PRL. Three of the isolates decreased PCN hatch significantly in PRL. Only one isolate increased hatch significantly in the absence of PRL. No isolate affected the hatch of both species. Six of the nine isolates that significantly affected PCN hatch had been pre-selected by culturing on PRL. Bacterial isolates from PCN non-hosts (14 from wheat, 17 from sugar beet) were also tested for hatching activity. The principal effect of the hatch-active isolates from the PCN non-host plants was to increase PCN hatch in the presence of PRL. In contrast to the host bacteria results, the isolates from non-host plants affected only G. rostochiensis hatch (three wheat isolates and four sugar beet isolates significantly increased G. rostochiensis hatch); no such isolate affected G. pallida hatch significantly in the presence of PRL. Ten isolates (32%) from non-host plants had the ability to increase significantly the hatch of PCN in the absence of PRL (eight of these affected G. rostochiensis hatch and four affected G. pallida hatch), compared to only one bacterial isolate (1%) from a host plant. The majority of the isolates from non-hosts produced PCN species-specific effects, as with the bacteria isolated from potatoes, although two wheat isolates increased the hatch of both species significantly in the absence of PRL. Of 20 hatch-active bacterial isolates (from all three plants) identified, 70% were Bacillus spp. Other genera identified were Arthrobacter , Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus .

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document