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(Referência obtida automaticamente do Web of Science, por meio da informação sobre o financiamento pela FAPESP e o número do processo correspondente, incluída na publicação pelos autores.)

Trade-offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant-tended florivorous butterfly: the role of host plant quality and enemy-free space

Texto completo
Autor(es):
Rodrigues, Daniela [1] ; Kaminski, Lucas A. [1, 2] ; Freitas, Andre V. L. [1] ; Oliveira, Paulo S. [1]
Número total de Autores: 4
Afiliação do(s) autor(es):
[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
Número total de Afiliações: 2
Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
Fonte: Oecologia; v. 163, n. 3, p. 719-728, JUL 2010.
Citações Web of Science: 24
Resumo

The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant-treehopper associations as a source of enemy-free space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant-treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant-treehopper associations. No ant-treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant-treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-free space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and enemy-free space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly. (AU)

Processo FAPESP: 00/01484-1 - Borboletas como indicadores ambientais: monitoramento com Nymphalidae (Eurytelinae e Satyrinae)
Beneficiário:André Victor Lucci Freitas
Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
Processo FAPESP: 07/07802-4 - Avanços no estudo da polifagia em lepidópteros neotropicais
Beneficiário:Daniela Rodrigues
Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
Processo FAPESP: 08/54058-1 - Ecologia e comportamento de formigas neotropicais
Beneficiário:Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
Processo FAPESP: 04/05269-9 - Borboletas da Mata Atlântica: biogeografia e sistemática como ferramentas de conservação de biodiversidade
Beneficiário:André Victor Lucci Freitas
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores