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| Author(s): |
Mônica Frank Kersch Becker
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia |
| Defense date: | 2007-03-22 |
| Examining board members: |
Thomas Michael Lewinsohn;
Gustavo Quevedo Romero;
Paulo Inácio Prado
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| Advisor: | Thomas Michael Lewinsohn |
| Abstract | |
Natural or human-induced disturbances may promote plant phenotypic modifications, developmental and phenological changes which, in turn, may influence herbivores, predators and pollinators. Abiotic factors, especially nutrient availability, may also influence plant recovery. In this study, we evaluated plant regrowth and arthropod responses to experimental clipping plants in natural populations of Chromolaena pungens (Asteraceae: Eupatoriae), a perennial, native shrub in the Brazilian Cerrado. In particular, we assess how resprouting after severe or partial damage and nutrients influence: (i) vegetative regrowth; (ii) reproductive effort and floral traits; (iii) the abundance of galling, leaf-chewing and sap-sucking insects and their predaceous arthropods; (iv) endophagous insects and their parasitoids. The experiment followed a two-factor randomized block design, respectivelly clipping (control, partial clipping and basal clipping) and nutrients (no nutrient added and with nutrients added). Basally clipped plants were smaller, produced fewer leaves and flowerheads than partially clipped and control plants, moreover heir floral phenology was delayed by one month. However, the relative elongation rate, leaf area and flowerhead size were greater in basally clipped plants. These plants also suffered higher leaf herbivory and seed destruction. Moreover, the abundance, species richness and abundance of flowerhead endophages were higher in basally clipped plants than in the other treatments. Not surprisingly, species composition differed among clipping treatments. For this reason, these findings contribute to the knowledge of insect-plant interactions in recurringly disturbed habitats (AU) | |