Distribution of gall-inducing arthropods in areas of deciduous seasonal forest of Parque da Sapucaia (Montes Claros, MG, Brazil): effects of anthropization, vegetation structure and seasonality

Abstract

In the present study, we inventoried gall-inducing arthropod species and evaluated the effects of habitat anthropization, vegetation structure and seasonality on this group in areas of deciduous seasonal forest of Parque da Sapucaia, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. The gall-inducing fauna was sampled between April 2017 and February 2018 from 20 plots distributed in anthropized and preserved habitats. A total of 29 morphospecies of gall-inducing arthropods and 21 species of host plants were recorded. The Fabaceae plant family had the highest number of gall morphospecies (n = 10), while the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) insect family induced the most galls (41.3%). Mean gall richness did not differ between preserved and anthropized plots, but was negatively affected by mean vegetation height and density. The total number of gall morphospecies recorded during each sampling did not differ between dry and rainy seasons, but the mean richness of galls per plot was higher in the rainy season. In conclusion, natural factors, such as vegetation structure and seasonality, were more important for the distribution of gall-inducing species than anthropic factors, such as vegetation anthropization level.

Plant galls recorded from Guanacaste Conservation Area-Costa Rica as an integrated concept of a biological database

“…2011b). Moreover, as in the ACG, for the tropical dry forest of Parque da Sapucaia-Brazil (Costa & Araújo 2019), the plant family with the greatest richness of gall morphotypes was Fabaceae. Similarly, the most affected plant organ was the leaf (82.2%).…”

“…In recent years new gall morphotypes are being reported continuously (Nieves-Aldrey et al 2008, Goetz et al 2018, Costa & Araújo 2019. The evidence from these new reports suggests that gall diversity is directly correlated with the richness of plant species in the areas under study (Cuevas-Reyes et al 2014, Araújo 2017, Coelho et al 2017.…”

“…To date, for tropical regions, detailed inventories on the occurrence and diversity of gall morphotypes are scarce and incomplete. In the Neotropical Region, the majority of plant gall morphotype records are from Brazil (Urso-Guimarães & Scarelli-Santos 2006, Saito & Urso-Guimarães 2012, Isaias et al 2013, Carvalho-Fernandes et al 2016, Urso-Guimarães et al 2017, Araújo 2017, Liu et al 2018, Flor et al 2018, Ascendino & Maia 2018, Vieira et al 2018, Ribeiro et al 2019 and some of them were conducted in different types of tropical dry forests or semi-arid ecosystems (Coelho et al 2009, Santos et al 2011b, Maia & Souza 2013, Costa & Araújo 2019. Likewise, other reports have been done for the Mexican dry forest (Cuevas-Reyes et al 2004, Cuevas-Reyes et al 2014.…”

Diversity of Eusocial Bees in Natural and Anthropized Areas of a Tropical Dry Forest in the Parque da Sapucaia (Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

“…The climate of the region is tropical semi-arid (as of Köppen), with hot summers and dry winters and an annual average temperature of 24.1°C (Alvares et al, 2013). The park has an area of 30.2 hectares predominantly composed by tropical dry forest (Santos et al, 2007), where the elevation ranges from 690 to 872 m. Due to the use of the park for visitation and tourism activities, there are parts of the vegetation that have been degraded through undergrowth pruning, tree clearing and canopy opening, for the construction of trails and recreation areas (Costa & Araújo, 2019). However, most of the park area has relatively well-preserved natural vegetation.…”

“…The pronounced seasonal climate associated with the occurrence of deciduous plant species causes a high deciduousness rate in the tropical dry forests in the dry season, with more than 50% of plants losing their leaves (Sanchez-Azofeifa et al, 2005). The strong deciduousness of the tropical dry forest, in addition to resulting in seasonal changes in the cycling of organic matter and microclimate conditions in the forests, also influences the distribution of animal species that use plant resources (Costa & Araújo, 2019). Insects, such as bees, which feed on plant resources (e.g., nectar or pollen), are likely to be affected by the strong seasonal regime in deciduousness of tropical dry forests.…”