Insect diversity in the Cape Floristic Region

Giliomee, J.H.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2028.2003.00442.x

Cited by 38 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The sclerophyllous leaves of CFR plants may act as deterrent to folivores [33,38] and the low soil nutrients (leading to low plant nutrients) could favour generalism in herbivorous insects, where insects may switch seasonally between plant species to optimise nutrient intake [19]. Alternately, insects may be specialised on a plant species and only be present in the community when nutrient uptake from that plant species is optimal.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Significant Local-Scale Plant-Insect Species Richness Relationship Independent of Abiotic Effects in the Temperate Cape Floristic Region Biodiversity Hotspot

Kemp

Ellis

2017

PLoS ONE

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Globally plant species richness is a significant predictor of insect richness. Whether this is the result of insect diversity responding directly to plant diversity, or both groups responding in similar ways to extrinsic factors, has been much debated. Here we assess this relationship in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), a biodiversity hotspot. The CFR has higher plant diversity than expected from latitude (i.e., abiotic conditions), but very little is known about the diversity of insects residing in this region. We first quantify diversity relationships at multiple spatial scales for one of the dominant plant families in the CFR, the Restionaceae, and its associated insect herbivore community. Plant and insect diversity are significantly positively correlated at the local scales (10–50 m; 0.1–3 km), but not at the regional scales (15–20 km; 50–70 km). The local scale relationship remains significantly positively correlated even when accounting for the influence of extrinsic variables and other vegetation attributes. This suggests that the diversity of local insect assemblages may be more strongly influenced by plant species richness than by abiotic variables. Further, vegetation age and plant structural complexity also influenced insect richness. The ratio of insect species per plant species in the CFR is comparable to other temperate regions around the world, suggesting that the insect diversity of the CFR is high relative to other areas of the globe with similar abiotic conditions, primarily as a result of the unusually high plant diversity in the region.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The limited work on CFR insect diversity suggests that Cape plant and insect diversity may be positively correlated [27–30]. Authors, however, disagree on whether CFR insect diversity is high [27,31], depauperate [32,33] or comparable to neighbouring regions [30]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant Local-Scale Plant-Insect Species Richness Relationship Independent of Abiotic Effects in the Temperate Cape Floristic Region Biodiversity Hotspot

Kemp

Ellis

2017

PLoS ONE

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“…Cowling & Lombard 2002) has somewhat overshadowed its faunal diversity and, in consequence, there is a dearth of information on insect species diversity within the CFR, although their functional significance is appreciated. The consensus view is that diversity is low (Johnson 1992;Giliomee 2003), although several local scale studies of specific host plants and their herbivores suggest that insect richness might be much higher than is generally thought to be the case (e.g. Cicadellidae: Davies 1988a,b;gall-forming insects: Wright & Samways 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground‐dwelling beetle assemblages in the northern Cape Floristic Region: Patterns, correlates and implications

Botes¹,

McGeoch

Chown

2007

Austral Ecology

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Recent studies have both shown and predicted that global climate change will have a substantial influence on biodiversity.This is true especially of a global biodiversity hotspot, the Cape Floristic Region. Although the effects of predicted changes have been widely assessed for plants, little is known about how insect diversity in the region might be affected. In particular, patterns in and the correlates of diversity in the region are poorly understood, and therefore the likely affects of a changing abiotic environment on this significant group of organisms are not clear.Therefore, we investigate patterns in, and correlates of, epigaeic beetle (Tenebrionidae and Carabidae) diversity in one of the most climate change-sensitive areas in the Cape Floristic Region, the Cederberg. In particular, we determine whether epigaeic beetle assemblage structure differs between the main vegetation types in the Cederberg (Strandveld, Mountain Fynbos and Succulent Karoo), how restricted these beetles are to specific vegetation types, and which environmental variables might be associated with site-related differences in beetle richness and abundance. Sampling was undertaken during October 2002 and 2003 across an altitudinal gradient ranging from sea level (Lambert's Bay) to approximately 2000 m above sea level (Sneeukop, Cederberg) and down again to 500 m above sea level (Wupperthal) using pitfall traps. The environmental correlates of abundance and species density in the epigaeic beetles were similar to those identified previously for ants across the transect, with both taxa being positively related to several temperature variables. Several species showed habitat specificity and fidelity, and clear distinctions existed between the vegetation types across the transect. A larger proportion of the variance in tenebrionid species density was explained by environmental variables and spatial factors than for carabids. The most likely explanation for this difference is that the correlates might well reflect collinear historical processes, rather than a causal relationship between contemporary environmental variables and species density. If this is the case, it suggests that caution should be exercised when interpreting environmental correlates of species density, and making climate change predictions based on these correlates.

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“…It is small area, but includes high plant species richness, especially plants considered as endemics to CFR. It also includes several endemic species of birds, amphibians, insects and a few invertebrates (Giliomee, 2003). Ants play an important role in maintaining this ecosystem and they use different habitat such as under litter, on the ground, in logs, inside dead trees and on tree branches.…”

Section: Bothroponera Laevissima (Arnold)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Revision of the African Ants of the Bothroponera pumicosa Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Joma¹,

Mackay²

2015

Sociobiology

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IntroductionThe Afrotropical ants of the genus Bothroponera are a highly diverse group of Formicidae that belongs to the subfamily Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini. Little information is known about their behavior, biodiversity, richness, biology, ecology, biosystematics and evolution. The most common species in the Afrotropics are B. talpa and B. pachyderma of talpa species complex and B. crassior, B. silvestrii and B. soror of the sulcata species complex among 43 taxa of Bothroponera that are distributed in the Afrotropics and Southern Asia. The species of pumicosa species complex are mostly restricted to South Africa with the exception of B. cariosa that was collected in Mozambique (Emery, 1895), Tanzania and Gabon (Ant web, 2013), B. granosa that was collected in Zimbabwe (Arnold, 1926) and B. pumicosa that was collected in Cameroon (Wheeler, 1922;Stitz, 1910). AbstractAfrican ants are poorly known, especially Afrotropical ants of the subfamily Ponerinae, despite recent advances. The genus Bothroponera (Ponerinae) includes the pumicosa, talpa and sulcata species complexes. We here present a revision of members of the pumicosa species complex. These ants can be characterized by having coarsely foveolate sculpture and by having either a raised a "v" or "u" shaped anterior medial border of the clypeus (anteclypeus), with or without a carina. Members of this complex lack the metatibial gland on the anterior side of the lower metatibia. Species in the Bothroponera pumicosa species complex are mainly distributed in the southern part of Africa. They include: Bothroponera aspera Arnold, 1962 (stat. nov.), B. berthoudi (Forel, 1901) Emery, 1895, and B. umgodikulula Joma andMackay, 2013. A key to the workers with diagnoses and comparisons is provided, together with illustrations of each species and colored photographs of the species, as well as maps and the distributions of each species.

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Insect diversity in the Cape Floristic Region

Cited by 38 publications

References 27 publications

Significant Local-Scale Plant-Insect Species Richness Relationship Independent of Abiotic Effects in the Temperate Cape Floristic Region Biodiversity Hotspot

Significant Local-Scale Plant-Insect Species Richness Relationship Independent of Abiotic Effects in the Temperate Cape Floristic Region Biodiversity Hotspot

Ground‐dwelling beetle assemblages in the northern Cape Floristic Region: Patterns, correlates and implications

Revision of the African Ants of the Bothroponera pumicosa Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

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