Species turnover drives ß-diversity patterns across multiple spatial scales of plant-galling interactions in mountaintop grasslands.

This study describes differences in species richness and composition of the assemblages of galling insects and their host plants at different spatial scales. Sampling was conducted along altitudinal gradients composed of campos rupestres and campos de altitude of two mountain complexes in southeastern Brazil: Espinhaço Range and Mantiqueira Range. The following hypotheses were tested: i) local and regional richness of host plants and galling insects are positively correlated; ii) beta diversity is the most important component of regional diversity of host plants and galling insects; and iii) Turnover is the main mechanism driving beta diversity of both host plants and galling insects. Local richness of galling insects and host plants increased with increasing regional richness of species, suggesting a pattern of unsaturated communities. The additive partition of regional richness (γ) into local and beta components shows that local richnesses (α) of species of galling insects and host plants are low relative to regional richness; the beta (ß) component incorporates most of the regional richness. The multi-scale analysis of additive partitioning showed similar patterns for galling insects and host plants with the local component (α) incorporated a small part of regional richness. Beta diversity of galling insects and host plants were mainly the result of turnover, with little contribution from nesting. Although the species composition of galling insects and host plant species varied among sample sites, mountains and even mountain ranges, local richness remained relatively low. In this way, the addition of local habitats with different landscapes substantially affects regional richness. Each mountain contributes fundamentally to the composition of regional diversity of galling insects and host plants, and so the design of future conservation strategies should incorporate multiple scales.

Galling Insects of the Brazilian Páramos: Species Richness and Composition Along High-Altitude Grasslands.

In this work, we investigated the factors that determine the distribution of galling insects in high-altitude grasslands, locally called 'campos de altitude' of Mantiqueira Range and tested whether 1) richness of galling insects decreases with altitude, 2) galling insect richness increases with plant richness, 3) variation in galling insect diversity is predominantly a consequence of its ß component, and 4) turnover is the main mechanism driving the beta diversity of both galling insects and plants. Galling insect richness did not exhibit a negative relationship with altitude, but it did increase with plant richness. The additive partition of regional richness (γ) into its local and beta components showed that local diversity (α) of galling insects and plants was relatively low in relation to regional diversity; the ß component incorporated most of the regional diversity. This pattern was also found in the multiscale analysis of the additive partition for galling insects and plants. The beta diversity of galling insects and plants was driven predominantly by the process of turnover and minimally by nesting. The results reported here point out that the spatial distribution of galling insects is best explained by historical factors, such as the distribution of genera and species of key host plants, as well as their relation to habitat, than ecological effects such as hygrothermal stress - here represented by altitude.

Gall-inducing insects from Campos de Altitude, Brazil

Gall-inducing insects are very specious in vegetations of southeastern Brazil. Our goal was describe the gall richness by characterizing their external forms and their patterns of occurrence on host plants. Samples were collected from Campos de Altitude at four regions of the Mantiqueira Range: 1) Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, 2) Parque Nacional do Caparaó, 3) Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, 4) Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. We found 93 gall species within 13 families, 30 genera and 50 host plant species. We recorded 38 gall species in Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, 21 in Parque Nacional do Caparaó, 23 in Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca and 20 in Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. Asteraceae represented 33% of the species collected, followed by Melastomataceae at 17%; with each one concentrating 56% and 18% of the galling insects, respectively. 98% of galls were Cecydomiidae (Diptera). The most attacked organ was the stem (56%), followed by the leaf (23%). Only 12% of the galls described in our study had been already recorded in previous studies, thus reinforcing the need to increase the sampling effort toward a better understanding of the richness and the natural history of gall-inducing insects from Brazil.

Insetos indutores de galhas são muito ricos em espécies nas formações vegetais do sudeste do Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a riqueza de morfotipos de galha por meio da caracterização de suas formas externas e os padrões de ocorrência nas plantas hospedeiras. As amostragens foram realizadas em campos rupestres e altitudinais de quatro regiões da Serra da Mantiqueira: 1) campos de altitude do Parque Estadual do Brigadeiro e 2) Parque Nacional do Caparaó, 3) Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca e Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. Foram registradas 93 espécies de galhas induzidas por insetos em 13 famílias, 30 gêneros e 50 espécies de plantas hospedeiras. Sendo 38 a riqueza de insetos indutores de galhas do Parque Estadual do Brigadeiro, 21 do Parque Nacional do Caparaó, 23 do Parque Nacional do Caparaó e 20 do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. As famílias com maior riqueza foram Asteraceae (33%) e Melastomataceae (17%). A família Cecydomiidae (Diptera) foi a mais frequente (98%). O órgão mais atacado foi o caule (56%) seguido de folha (23%). O fato de apenas 12% das galhas descritas neste estudo já terem sido registradas em trabalhos anteriores, reforça a necessidade em aumentar o esforço amostral na direção de um maior conhecimento sobre a riqueza e história natural dos insetos indutores de galhas no Brasil.

Angiospermas em remanescentes de floresta montana no sul da Bahia, Brasil / Angiosperms of Montane Forest areas in southern Bahia, Brazil

Foi realizado um levantamento florístico de três remanescentes de floresta montana localizados na Mata Atlântica do sul da Bahia. Durante os anos de 2004 a 2008 foram feitas coletas periódicas de material botânico, principalmente ao longo de trilhas no interior dos fragmentos das áreas: Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada - SPL, Reserva Serra das Lontras - SLO e Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra Bonita - SBO. A riqueza florística em cada área foi comparada entre si e com outras áreas de Mata Atlântica na Bahia e no Sudeste do Brasil. Foi registrado um total de 1.129 espécies em 467 gêneros e 124 famílias. O hábito arbóreo representou 46,9 por cento das espécies, seguido de herbáceas (20,1 por cento), epífitas (19,5 por cento) e trepadeiras (13,5 por cento). As famílias Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae e Solanaceae apresentaram a maior riqueza florística nas três áreas em conjunto. O gênero Psychotria (Rubiaceae) apresentou o maior número de espécies em todas as áreas (21 spp.), destacando-se também Miconia (20 spp.), Solanum (20 spp.), Piper (19 spp.), Ocotea (16 spp.), Leandra (16 spp.), Peperomia (15 spp.) e Myrcia (14 spp.). Os resultados confirmam a elevada riqueza de angiospermas no sul da Bahia e evidenciam, pela primeira vez, a ocorrência de espécies características de regiões montanhosas da Mata Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil nessa região.

A floristic study of three areas of montane Atlantic forest in southern Bahia, Brazil, was carried out. From 2004 to 2008 regular botanical collections were made, principally along trails in the interior of the forest fragments at: the Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada (SPL), the Reserva Serra das Lontras (SLO) and the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra Bonita (SBO). The species richness of each area was compared to that of the other two, and together to other areas of Atlantic coastal forest in Bahia and southeastern Brazil. For all three areas, a total of 1129 species in 467 genera and 124 families were found. Trees represented 46.9 percent of the species, followed by herbs (20.1 percent), epiphytes (19.5 percent), and vines and lianas (13.5 percent). The families Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae showed the highest species richness for the three areas together. The genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) had the highest number of species for all three areas (21 spp.), followed by Miconia (20 spp.), Solanum (20 spp.), Piper (19 spp.), Ocotea (16 spp.), Leandra (16 spp.), Peperomia (15 spp.), and Myrcia (14 spp.). The results confirm the high species diversity of angiosperms in southern Bahia and demonstrate for the first time the presence of species characteristic of montane regions of southeastern Brazil in this region.