LIBERAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA DE ESPÉCIE INVASORA
ENTOMOFAUNA ASSOCIADA À CALOTROPIS PROCERA NÃO AFETA A GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65259/rnzool.v4i1.104Keywords:
Caatinga, Calotropis procera, Oncopeltus, pos-dispersal predation, RestingaAbstract
Interactions between insects and plants may exert a great influence on the dynamics and structure of plant communities. For species introduced into a new habitat, antagonistic interactions may control the expansion of these exotic populations. The propose of this study was to identify the insects associated with Calotropis procera fruits in two populations in Northeast Brazil and to analyze its influence on the seed germination. Thirty fruits were collected during the rainy season of 2007 in the Caatinga and Restinga ecosystems. For each fruit, was observed the presence and the stage of development of insects and the number of predated seeds. In order to investigate the influence of insects, we measured the seed dry biomass and their germinability in fruits with and without insects. Sucking insects O. unifasciatus were found in association with the fruits of C. procera in areas of Caatinga. Individuals at different stages of development were observed, suggesting that these fruits are used as breeding sites. We did not observed insects on fruits in Restinga areas. Fruits with and without association with O. unifasciatus did not differ in the dry biomass and germinability of the seeds. Thus, O. unifasciatus does not act as seed predator and its role as a population regulating agent for C. procera in studied habitats seems irrelevant. As these animals may also forage in other plant organs, further studies should investigate the influence of O. unifasciatus in the growth and reproduction of C. procera.
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