Abstract
The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI) (Brazilian Southeast Region) was surveyed monthly for insect galls from February/2014 to December/ 2015. A total of 432 gall morphotypes were found. This number places the PNI as the richest Atlantic forest area in number of gall morphotypes. The galls were found on 47 plant families. Among them, Asteraceae were pointed out as the superhost. The gall richness in the lower part of the PNI is higher than that of the plateau. The insect galls were found in 154 native, 56 endemic and only one exotic plant species. Concerning the conservational status, the host plants include two vulnerable species with three morphotypes together. Several new botanical records were reported. Leaves were the most galled plant organ, followed by stems. Globoid, green, glabrous and one-chambered galls were the most frequent. Cecidomyiidae were the most common gallers. Parasitoids, successors and inquilines composed the associated fauna.
Highlights
The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI) is a prioritary area for the biodiversity conservation of the Atlantic forest. It is situated in the Serra da Mantiqueira on the border of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo (Fig. 1)
A total of 432 gall morphotypes were found in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia
Other gall morphotypes were recorded in the PNI: 19 by Coelho et al 2013a, 38 by Maia 2014, both in the altitude fields, and two by Gagné et al 2001
Summary
The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI) is a prioritary area for the biodiversity conservation of the Atlantic forest. It is situated in the Serra da Mantiqueira on the border of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo (Fig. 1). It has an area of 28,000 hectares, characterized by mountains and rocky hills, with altitude ranging from 540 to 2,791 m. The flora and fauna exhibit high index of endemism. About 1,328 plant species have been recorded in the PNI, among them, 163 are endemic. The fauna includes about 5,000 insect species, 25 reptile species, 67 amphibian species, 357 bird species and 67 mammalian species (ICMBIO 2016)
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