Abstract
In the present study we described the structure of a trophic network composed by gall-midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and their host plants in the Restinga of Barra de Maricá (Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Species data were retrieved from literature and different topological descriptors (links per species, connectance, and modularity of interactions) were used. All gall-midge species were monophages, with connectance of 2.8% of the 2,016 possible interactions. The network of host plants and gall midges had low number of links per species and high modularity, which indicates high specificity and specialization of plant-galling interactions in the area. This is the first characterization of a trophic network with good taxonomic resolution for the Neotropical gall midges.
Highlights
Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) is the most diverse group of gall-inducing insects in the world, with more than 6,500 described species (Gagné & Jaschhof, 2017)
We describe for the first time a taxonomically well-resolved network composed by host plants and gall midges at the Restinga of Barra de Maricá, municipality of Maricá, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil
We found a high specialization of interactions between host plants and gall midges in the present study, confirming previous studies (Carneiro et al, 2009; Araújo et al, 2019b)
Summary
Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) is the most diverse group of gall-inducing insects in the world, with more than 6,500 described species (Gagné & Jaschhof, 2017). The Brazilian fauna includes about 50% of the described Neotropical species (Gagné, 1994; Gagné & Jaschhof, 2017), most of them from the Atlantic Forest. This situation reflects the scarcity of taxonomical studies about gall midges (Araújo et al, 2019a), which makes it difficult to understand biological and ecological processes involving these insects and their host plants. We describe for the first time a taxonomically well-resolved network composed by host plants and gall midges at the Restinga of Barra de Maricá, municipality of Maricá, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
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