Abstract

Insect-aroid interaction studies have focused largely on pollination systems; however, few report trophic interactions with other herbivores. This study features the endophagous insect community in reproductive aroid structures of a tropical rainforest of Mexico, and the shifting that occurs along an altitudinal gradient and among different hosts. In three sites of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, we surveyed eight aroid species over a yearly cycle. The insects found were reared in the laboratory, quantified and identified. Data were analyzed through species interaction networks. We recorded 34 endophagous species from 21 families belonging to four insect orders. The community was highly specialized at both network and species levels. Along the altitudinal gradient, there was a reduction in richness and a high turnover of species, while the assemblage among hosts was also highly specific, with different dominant species. Our findings suggest that intrinsic plant factors could influence their occupation, and that the coexistence of distinct insect species in the assemblage could exert a direct or indirect influence on their ability to colonize such resources.

Highlights

  • A major goal of community ecology has been understanding the extent to which natural communities are structured by ecological processes, including competition for resources, predation or parasitism [1]

  • We surveyed a total of 250 infructescences from eight aroid species: Dieffenbachia oerstedii, Philodendron inaequilaterum, P. seguine, P. radiatum, P. sagittifolium, P. tripartitum, Rhodospatha wendlandii and Xanthosoma robustum

  • P. sagittifolium accounted for 70% of total infructescences, while P. inaequilaterum accounted for just nine infructescences (Table 1)

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Summary

Introduction

A major goal of community ecology has been understanding the extent to which natural communities are structured by ecological processes, including competition for resources, predation or parasitism [1]. The mega-diversity of tropical herbivores is a result of several factors, including the greater presence of host plants and arthropods per plant species, along with higher host specificity, or increased species turnover [4]. The high fidelity of animals and plants to spatial or temporal habitat is understood as apparently minor differences in physical conditions, as compared with temperate habitats [7]. It supposes that animals and plants are evolutionarily adapted, or able to acclimate to Insects 2019, 10, 252; doi:10.3390/insects10080252 www.mdpi.com/journal/insects

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