Abstract
ABSTRACT We surveyed parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) in two guarana plantations in the central Brazilian Amazon (one conventionally, and one organically managed), as well as in adjacent forest and edge areas between crop and forest. We evaluated differences between management systems in parasitoid diversity and abundance, and assessed the importance of the surrounding matrix as a source of parasitoid wasps for guarana cultivation. Parasitoid wasp richness, abundance and taxonomic composition (at family level) were compared between plantations, and among habitats within plantations. Wasps were sampled using Malaise and Moericke traps. A total of 25,951 parasitoid wasps (10,828 in the conventional, and 15,123 in the organic crop area) were collected, and were distributed in 11 superfamilies and 38 families. In the conventional management area, the greatest abundance and richness of parasitoids were recorded in the adjacent forest, while, in the organic management area, the greatest abundance and richness were recorded in the crop-forest edge. Parasitoid wasp family richness was not influenced by management system and habitat but varied significantly between trap types. Average wasp abundance varied significantly between management systems. The presence of adjacent forest in both cultivation areas likely contributed to a greater abundance and richness of parasitoid wasps, showing the importance of preserving forest areas near the plantations.
Highlights
The complexity of the surrounding landscape and the management system employed in agricultural crops can influence the diversity of microorganisms, plants and animals present in agricultural areas (Tscharntke et al 2005), affecting environmental services, such as nutrient cycling, water regulation, and biological pest control by natural enemies (Tilman et al 2002; Kremen 2005)
Studies comparing the composition of parasitoid wasp assemblages in adjacent forest and crop-area edges showed that the complexity of the agricultural landscape directly affects the presence and abundance of parasitoid wasps inside crop areas, which in turn favors the biological control of pests (Thies and Tscharntke 1999; Roschewitz et al 2005; Woltz et al 2012)
Encyrtidae was abundant in both the edge and the interior of the crop in both management systems, having as main representatives Copidosoma sp. and Neodusmetia sangwani (Subba Rao, 1957), while Platygastridae was the most abundant in the forest in both areas
Summary
The complexity of the surrounding landscape and the management system employed in agricultural crops can influence the diversity of microorganisms, plants and animals present in agricultural areas (Tscharntke et al 2005), affecting environmental services, such as nutrient cycling, water regulation, and biological pest control by natural enemies (Tilman et al 2002; Kremen 2005). Parasitoid wasps are the most species-rich group of Hymenoptera in terrestrial ecosystems and are common and abundant natural enemies of insect crop pests (Sharkey 2007). They are indicators of ecosystem health, since they are susceptible to habitat fragmentation and sensitive to ecological perturbations, specially pesticides (Kruess and Tscharntke 2000; Sharkey 2007). Studies comparing the composition of parasitoid wasp assemblages in adjacent forest and crop-area edges showed that the complexity of the agricultural landscape directly affects the presence and abundance of parasitoid wasps inside crop areas, which in turn favors the biological control of pests (Thies and Tscharntke 1999; Roschewitz et al 2005; Woltz et al 2012)
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