Tropical Food Research Articles

Functional validation of mungbean LEA protein coding gene in bacterial expression system confers salt stress tolerance

Mungbean (Vigna radiata R. Wilczek) is a major tropical food grain legume that is widely cultivated in tropical part of the world. Mungbean like other plants, tolerate and survive limited water situation owing to expression of stress associated proteins that offers membrane stability and cell protection. Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins are among the group of low molecular weight proteins, that play diverse roles in stress protection in several species of plants and animals. A LEA protein coding gene VrLEA2 was isolated from mungbean and its role in stress tolerance has been demonstrated using a bacterial expression system. VrLEA2 gene isolated was of size 893 bp and characterized as a group 1 LEA protein based on the sequence signature motif with presence of hydrophilic domain and a characteristic 20-mer conserved amino acids motif. VrLEA2 gene was cloned into a bacterial expression vector, pET 28a (+), transformed into the E.coli BL21 (DE3) cells for recombinant protein expression and subsequently subjected to antibiotic selection with kanamycin. Functional validation of the VrLEA2 for salt stress tolerance with varied concentration of NaCl (0 mM to 600 mM) showed alteration in colony morphology and reduction in the number of colonies in control compared to the transformed cells demonstrating the improved survival rate of cells expressing VrLEA2 protein. These findings indicate the best use of bacterial expression system for functional validation of plant proteins under stressed environments.

A Review on Phytochemical, Biological, and Pharma-cological Effects of Psidium guajava Linn. (Guava)

In today’s time there is a tremendously increased use of herbal products worldwide. Psidium guajava L., commonly known as guava, is an essential tropical food plant with various medicinal properties. It is widely available in many countries, especially in Asian countries it is used as a treatment for many diseases. Each plant part has particular properties to treat diseases. The bioactive constituents extracted from Psidium guajava (P. guajava) include (gallic acid, catechin, rutin, Gallocatechin, vanillic acid, quercetin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, isoquercitrin, casuarina, pedunculagin dimer isomer, myricetin, morin, luteolin, apigenin, ellagic acid, guanosine B, Quercetin-3-0-β-glucoside, ursolic acid and also essential oils) used for the treatment of diseases like anti-diabetes, anti- hypertension, anti- hyperlipidaemia, anti-cancer, autonomous, neuroprotective, anti-depressant, etc. The goal of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive compounds and pharmacological activity of Psidium guajava with greatest emphasis on its therapeutic potential.

What determines demographic growth in green anacondas? Strong interactions among vertebrates in a neotropical ecosystem

IntroductionTrophic cascades can produce important effects on a community where some species may have strong effects on other parts of the community up, down the food chain, or both. Top predators are often controlled from the bottom-up by the abundance of their prey base while prey animals are often controlled from the top-down. Studies of trophic interactions in the tropics suggest that the trophic chains are longer because of the high productivity; and because of the high diversity there is abundant intraguild redundancy which results in weak interactions.MethodsWe studied the effect of bottom-up forces affecting the population of green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) in the Venezuelan llanos; looking at net primary productivity, precipitation, and the abundance of an important prey item, Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris).ResultsOur data show a strong interaction of these variables on the percentage of Anacondas that reproduce in a given year (here forth breeding ratio). In particular Capybara abundance has a strong effect. Capybara abundance itself is also under strong bottom-up influence determined by precipitation and Net Primary Productivity.DiscussionThese strong interactions are not what is expected from a tropical ecosystem. We also found an unexpected strong influence of precipitation and primary productivity on Anaconda breeding ratio not related to the abundance of Capybara, likely affecting abundance of other prey or affecting non-trophic variables. This later evidence supports the notion that there is redundancy in tropical food chains and, strong as the effect of Capybara abundance might be, Anacondas do not entirely rely on them.

Impacts of ground-level ozone on sugarcane production

Sugarcane is a vital commodity crop often grown in (sub)tropical regions which have been experiencing a recent deterioration in air quality. Unlike for other commodity crops, the risk of air pollution, specifically ozone (O3), to this C4 crop has not yet been quantified. Yet, recent work has highlighted both the potential risks of O3 to C4 bioenergy crops, and the emergence of O3 exposure across the tropics as a vital factor determining global food security. Given the large extent, and planned expansion of sugarcane production in places like Brazil to meet global demand for biofuels, there is a pressing need to characterize the risk of O3 to the industry. In this study, we sought to a) derive sugarcane O3 dose-response functions across a range of realistic O3 exposure and b) model the implications of this across a globally important production area. We found a significant impact of O3 on biomass allocation (especially to leaves) and production across a range of sugarcane genotypes, including two commercially relevant varieties (e.g. CTC4, Q240). Using these data, we calculated dose-response functions for sugarcane and combined them with hourly O3 exposure across south-central Brazil derived from the UK Earth System Model (UKESM1) to simulate the current regional impact of O3 on sugarcane production using a dynamic global vegetation model (JULES vn 5.6). We found that between 5.6 % and 18.3 % of total crop productivity is likely lost across the region due to the direct impacts of current O3 exposure. However, impacts depended critically on the substantial differences in O3 susceptibility observed among sugarcane genotypes and how these were implemented in the model. Our work highlights not only the urgent need to fully elucidate the impacts of O3 in this important bioenergetic crop, but the potential implications air quality may have upon tropical food production more generally.

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Komposisi Nutrisi, Kandungan Senyawa Bioaktif dan Uji Hedonik Kue Tepung Ubi Ungu (Ipomoea batatas cultivar Ayamurasaki) Fermentasi

Purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cultivar Ayamurasaki) is one of the most abundant tropical food crops in Indonesia. Purple sweet potato has a very feasible potential to be considered in supporting a food diversification program based on flour products. The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional composition and content of bioactive compounds in cakes made from processed purple sweet potatoes without and with fermentation. The cake microstructure was observed and documented using a SEM (Scanning Electro Microscopy) microscope. Organoleptic preference test was done in hedonic form (like or dislike) on taste, aroma, texture and color. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with ANOVA analysis. The nutritional results of the fermented purple sweet potato cake increased in the content of carbohydrates, fat, ash, dietary fiber, amylose, amylopectin while the protein and water content decreased. The result of the content of bioactive compounds from purple sweet potato cake with fermentation was an increase in the content of antioxidants, flavonoids while the content of polyphenols decreased. SEM results from purple sweet potato cake crumbs without and with different fermentation. The hedonic test results in terms of taste, aroma, and texture of cakes with flour without fermentation are preferred, while in terms of color without and with fermentation cakes are equally preferred.

Capitalism, Imperialism and the Food Question

The success and failure of capitalism have been commonly measured by the yardsticks of industrialisation, technical progress and innovations in the financial markets. The emergence of industrial agriculture under successful capitalist transitions is supposed to have taken care of all food and raw material constraints that could have arrested the development of industrial economies and societies in the North. Simultaneously, the problems of underdevelopment and food insecurity in the South is attributed to internal constraints and barriers. The work of Utsa Patnaik challenges these views as she explored multiple aspects of the contribution of colonies to the advance of capital accumulation in the North. She delves into the nineteenth century ‘international division of labour’, the role of tropical food and raw materials exports by commercialised southern agriculture and implication for food security in the colonies. The objective of this article is to engage with the anti-imperial scholarship of Utsa Patnaik with a specific focus on the food question in capitalism. The article traces the evolution of the food question as capitalism evolved and dominated the world economy. JEL Codes: P1, F54, Q18

The impacts of tropical agriculture on biodiversity: A meta‐analysis

Abstract Biodiversity underpins all food production and strengthens agricultural resilience to crop failure. However, agricultural expansion is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, particularly in the tropics where crop production is increasing and intensifying rapidly to meet a growing global food demand. It is therefore crucial to ask, how do different crops and crop production systems impact biodiversity? We first use the FAO database of harvested crop area to explore temporal changes in crop area and intensification across the entire tropical realm. We show that the harvested area of tropical crops has more than doubled since 1961, with ever‐increasing intensification. The harvested area in 2019 was 7.21 million km2, equivalent to 5.5% of global ice‐free land area, or 11.5% of land area in the tropics. Second, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 194 studies and 1364 pairwise comparisons to assess the impact of tropical agriculture on biodiversity, comparing biodiversity values in food crop sites versus natural reference habitats. Our meta‐analysis shows that crop type, rotation time and level of shading are important determinants of biodiversity assemblages. Perennial tropical crops that are grown in shaded plantations or agroforests (e.g. banana and coffee) support higher biodiversity, while crops cultivated in unshaded and often homogeneous croplands (e.g. maize, sugarcane and oil palm), and particularly annual crops, have impoverished biodiversity communities. Policy implications. Our findings highlight the increasing agricultural expansion and intensification over the last 60 years and inform our understanding of how different crops and crop production systems impact biodiversity. Furthermore, they provide insight into the long‐term sustainability of tropical food production and may serve as a warning sign for agricultural systems that rely on the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity.

Characterization of Colletotrichum Isolates from Strawberry and Other Hosts with Reference to Cross-Inoculation Potential.

Colletotrichum is an important phytopathogenic fungus that causes anthracnose disease in diverse agronomically important tropical food crops. Accurate pathogen identification is critical for early diagnosis and efficient management of anthracnose. ITS is not a reliable marker for this fungal genus due to its failure to phylogenetically resolve cryptic species. In this study, 36 Colletotrichum isolates belonging to the Acutatum, Boninense and Gloeosporioides species complexes were characterized using multigene phylogenetic analyses, morphology and pathogenicity assays. Additionally, the cross-inoculation potential of a representative subset of isolates was evaluated revealing that cross-infection potential is possible among the isolates belonging to the same species complex.

Sunlight-irradiated bismuth titanate nanoparticles mediated degradation of methylene blue—Ecological perspectives

We synthesized bismuth titanate nanoparticles using a facile sol–gel hydrothermal technique. The synthesized bismuth titanate nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and UV–Vis-diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV DRS). The XRD pattern exhibits the formation of bismuth titanate phase (Bi4Ti3O12). SEM and TEM images confirm the formation of a rod-like structure with some agglomeration. The EDX spectrum of the bismuth titanate reveals the presence of Bi, Ti, and O. Raman spectrum validates the strong interaction between the atoms in the bismuth titanate nanoparticles. The narrow band gap of the bismuth titanate degrades the methylene blue dye under sunlight irradiation. The attenuated degradability of methylene blue might be influenced by photoinduced electron poles. Ecotoxicological studies showed that bismuth titanate reduces the toxicity of methylene blue in all tropical food levels. A significant variation in the growth and chlorophyll ‘a’ level of Chlorella vulgaris was noted upon exposure to BTN-exposed MB-degraded water ([email protected]). Likely growth pattern, root and shoot lengths of O. sativa were noted when exposed to MB and [email protected] in comparison with the control group. Our results highlight the importance of bismuth titanate nanocomposites (BTN) for the degradation of methylene blue.

The ethnobotanical, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Psidium guajava L.

Psidium guajava L., commonly known as guava is an important tropical food plant with diverse medicinal values. In traditional medicine, it is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diarrhoea, diabetes, rheumatism, ulcers, malaria, cough, and bacterial infections. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological activities of P. guajava with greater emphasis on its therapeutic potentials. The bioactive constituents extracted from P. guajava include phytochemicals (gallic acid, casuariin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, vanillic acid, quercetin, syringic acid, kaempferol, apigenin, cinnamic acid, luteolin, quercetin-3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside, morin, ellagic acid, guaijaverin, pedunculoside, asiastic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, methyl gallate and epicatechin) and essential oils (limonene, trans -caryophyllene, α-humulene, γ-muurolene, selinene, caryophyllene oxide, bisabolol, isocaryophyllene, δ -cadinene, α -copaene, α-cedrene, β-eudesmol, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, linalool, α-terpineol and eucalyptol) . In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that P. guajava possesses pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiestrogenic, and antibacterial activities which support its traditional uses. The exhibited pharmacological activities reported may be attributed to the numerous bioactive compounds present in different parts of P. guajava . Based on the beneficial effects of P. guajava as well as its bioactive constituents, it can be exploited in the development of pharmaceutical products and functional foods. However, there is a need for comprehensive studies in clinical trials to establish the safe doses and efficacy of P. guajava for the treatment of several diseases.

Feasibility of early fertilization of maize with 15 N application to preceding cover crop

Early nitrogen (N) application on live cover crops or their residues is a potential alternative for supplying N demand while enhancing the yield of subsequent cash crops in tropical regions. The objective of applying N on live forage grasses or their residues to no-till (NT) systems is to promote the gradual release of N via straw decomposition to the subsequent crop. However, the N use efficiency by the subsequent crop under early fertilization has not been determined in the end of growing season. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the most cultivated tropical forage grasses can supply the N demand and enhance the grain yields of maize via the N recovery when N is applied with different timings than the conventional method. A 3-year field experiment was performed using palisade grass [(Urochloa brizantha (syn. Brachiaria)] and ruzigrass (U. ruziziensis) as cover crops with four N application timings to agricultural system: (i) no-N, zero N application; (ii) CC+N, 120 kg N ha−1 applied on live cover crops 35 days before maize seeding; (iii) St+N, 120 kg N ha−1 applied on cover crops straw 1 day before seeding; and (iii) Nv4, conventional method of sidedress N application at the maize V4 (four leaf) growth stage. Except control, all N treatments received 40 kg N ha−1at maize seeding, totalizing 160 kg N ha−1. Straw decomposition and cover crop N accumulation were greater in the treatments in which N fertilizer was applied on palisade grass compared with ruzigrass. High maize yields were achieved with N application on palisade grass or its residues or according to the conventional method, with yields of 13.2, 13.2 and 13.6 Mg ha−1, respectively. Similarly, high maize yields were obtained when N was applied on ruzigrass residues or according to the conventional method (12.1 and 11.8 Mg ha−1, respectively). However, regardless of cover crop species, N recovery was highest when N fertilizer was applied via the conventional method. Additionally, most of the N in maize at harvest came from the soil when N fertilizer was applied to live palisade grass. Thus, best recovery of N fertilizer in the grain occurred in maize fertilized using the conventional method. Our results indicate that agricultural systems characterized by high dry matter from palisade grass have the potential to recycle and supply N to subsequent maize. Although palisade grass combined with early N fertilizer application may enhance maize response and yield, the current conventional method of N fertilizer application on maize allows higher recovery from N fertilizer while increasing the maize yield in tropical food production.

Molecular phylogeny of the threadfin fishes (Polynemidae) using ultraconserved elements.

Threadfins (Teleostei: Polynemidae) are a group of fishes named for their elongated and threadlike pectoral-fin rays. These fishes are commonly found in the world's tropical and subtropical waters, and are an economically important group for people living in these regions, with more than 100,000 t harvested in recent years. However, we do not have a detailed understanding of polynemid evolutionary history such that these fishes can be monitored, managed and conserved as an important tropical food source. Recent studies hypothesize at least one genus of threadfins is polyphyletic, and no studies have focused on generating a hypothesis of relationship for the Polynemidae using DNA sequences. In this study, we analyse a genomic dataset of ultraconserved-element and mitochondrial loci to construct a phylogeny of the Polynemidae. We recover the threadfins as a clade sister to flatfishes, with the most taxonomically rich genus, Polydactylus, being resolved as polyphyletic. When comparing our dataset to data from previous studies, we find that a few recent broad-scale phylogenies of fishes have incorporated mislabelled, misidentified or chimeric terminals into their analyses, impacting the relationships of threadfins they recover. We highlight these problematic sequences, providing revised identifications based on the data sequenced in this study. We then discuss the intrarelationships of threadfins, highlighting morphological or ecological characters that support the clades we recover.

Seasonal Variation in Terrestrial Invertebrate Subsidies to Tropical Streams and Implications for the Feeding Ecology of Hart’s Rivulus (Anablepsoides hartii)

Terrestrial invertebrates are important subsidies to fish diets, though their seasonal dynamics and importance to tropical stream consumers are particularly understudied. In this year-round study of terrestrial invertebrate input to two Trinidadian headwater streams with different forest canopy densities, we sought to (a) measure the mass and composition of terrestrial inputs with fall-in traps to evaluate the influences of seasonality, canopy cover, and rainfall intensity, and; (b) compare terrestrial and benthic prey importance to Anablepsoides hartii (Hart’s Rivulus), the dominant invertivorous fish in these streams, by concurrently measuring benthic and drifting invertebrate standing stocks and the volume and composition of invertebrates in Rivulus guts throughout the year. The biomass of terrestrial invertebrate fall-in was 53% higher in the wet versus dry season; in particular, ant input was 320% higher. Ant biomass fall-in also increased with the density of canopy cover among sampling locations within both streams. Greater precipitation correlated with increased ant inputs to the more open-canopied stream and increased inputs of winged insects in the more closed canopy stream. Concurrently, the biomass of benthic invertebrates was reduced by more than half in the wet season in both streams. We detected no differences in the total volume of terrestrial prey in Rivulus diets between seasons, though ants were a greater proportion of their diet in the wet season. In contrast, benthic prey were nearly absent from Rivulus diets in the wet season in both streams. We conclude that terrestrial invertebrates are a substantial year-round prey subsidy for invertivores in tropical stream ecosystems like those we studied, which may contrast to most temperate streams where such terrestrial inputs are significantly reduced in the cold season. Interestingly, the strongest seasonal pattern in these tropical streams was observed in benthic invertebrate biomass which was greatly reduced and almost absent from Rivulus diets during the wet season. This pattern is essentially the inverse of the pattern observed in many temperate streams and highlights the need for additional studies in tropical ecosystems to better understand how spatial and temporal variation in terrestrial subsidies and benthic prey populations combine to influence consumer diets and the structure of tropical stream food webs.

Robustness of temperate versus tropical food webs: comparing species trait-based sequential deletions

Loss of species can unleash a cascade of secondary extinctions that cause dramatic changes in the structure and dynamics of food webs. The consequences for the food web depend on the traits of the species that are lost; thus, it is crucial to identify species’ traits associated with secondary extinction risk. Another important issue is to determine where the most vulnerable ecosystems are located. In this study, we aimed to compare the robustness of temperate versus tropical ecosystems to species loss. A total of 34 intertidal rock pools were analysed from a temperate and a tropical region (17 pools in each). Binary food web networks were assembled for each pool depicting who eats whom. Eighteen topological network properties were estimated to compare temperate and tropical webs. Robustness, a measure of network tolerance to species extinction, was assessed. Species loss was simulated in silico using sequential deletion protocols aimed at species that were (1) most connected, (2) least connected, (3) most abundant, and had the largest (4) body mass (mean weight) and (5) size (mean length). Tropical food webs exhibited higher robustness than temperate food webs. Both temperate and tropical food webs were less robust when the removal was directed at the most-connected species, confirming that highly connected species are particularly important in food webs. This study revealed, for the first time, that the positive relationship previously found between robustness and connectance is only confirmed for temperate webs, highlighting the need for more tropical case-studies in general data sets.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL, TEXTURAL AND ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST AFRICAN STIFF DOUGH ‘AMALA’ MADE FROM SOAKED AND UNSOAKED COCOYAM FLOUR

Cocoyam is a nutrient dense but neglected tropical food crop. Conversion of its tubers into flour and West African stiff dough ‘amala’ (WASDA) - commonly produce from white yam flour, would enhance cocoyam utilization and reduce pressure on white yam. A 3 x 2 factorial experiment with 3 soaking period (0, 12 and 24 h after peeling at ambient conditions 30±2 oC) and 2 varieties (Colocasia spp. and Xanthosoma spp.) were used. The physicochemical, functional and pasting properties and sensory attributes of the flours and WASDA were analyzed. The soaking processes significantly (p<0.05) affected the physicochemical properties. Color (L*value), amylose and total starch contents of flours ranged from 66.68 to 76.52, 11.22 to 22.39% and 63.22 to 70.32%, respectively. The variations in functional properties of the flours were species dependent. Soaked flour of Colocasia spp. (Col 12) showed significantly higher peak (5118.67 cp), holding strength (4102.67 cp) and final (6445.33 cp) viscosities than the others flours. Sensory attributes revealed that, the controlled WASDA from commercial yam flour had the best color, aroma, texture, mouldability, taste and overall acceptability, while WASDA from 12 (Colocasia spp.) and 24 (Xanthosoma spp.) h soaking showed higher overall acceptability and physical stability compared with the unsoaked products.

Quantitative estimates of glacial refugia for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) since the Last Interglacial (120,000 BP)

Paleoclimate reconstructions have enhanced our understanding of how past climates have shaped present-day biodiversity. We hypothesize that the geographic extent of Pleistocene forest refugia and suitable habitat fluctuated significantly in time during the late Quaternary for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Using bioclimatic variables representing monthly temperature and precipitation estimates, past human population density data, and an extensive database of georeferenced presence points, we built a model of changing habitat suitability for chimpanzees at fine spatio-temporal scales dating back to the Last Interglacial (120,000 BP). Our models cover a spatial resolution of 0.0467° (approximately 5.19 km2 grid cells) and a temporal resolution of between 1000 and 4000 years. Using our model, we mapped habitat stability over time using three approaches, comparing our modeled stability estimates to existing knowledge of Afrotropical refugia, as well as contemporary patterns of major keystone tropical food resources used by chimpanzees, figs (Moraceae), and palms (Arecacae). Results show habitat stability congruent with known glacial refugia across Africa, suggesting their extents may have been underestimated for chimpanzees, with potentially up to approximately 60,000 km2 of previously unrecognized glacial refugia. The refugia we highlight coincide with higher species richness for figs and palms. Our results provide spatio-temporally explicit insights into the role of refugia across the chimpanzee range, forming the empirical foundation for developing and testing hypotheses about behavioral, ecological, and genetic diversity with additional data. This methodology can be applied to other species and geographic areas when sufficient data are available.

Human-food feedback in tropical forests.

Ancient interaction between humans and edible plants can boost tropical food security

Predators override rainfall effects on tropical food webs

AbstractPredators alter ecological communities by inducing changes in prey abundance and phenotypes, including elemental and isotopic composition. Climatic factors are known to often moderate predator effects on prey abundance, but few studies consider the combined effects of climate and predators on prey phenotype. We examined how altered precipitation moderates the effects of predators on the abundance and the chemical composition of prey, as well as the indirect effects on the basal resource: leaf litter coated in biofilm. Using an experiment with an invertebrate food web module from tank bromeliads, we manipulated the presence of an odonate predator under scenarios of 10‐fold decreased, ambient, and threefold increased precipitation and measured responses of prey and their basal resource. Predators reduced prey abundance while precipitation did not. Both precipitation and predators, either singly or interactively, affected the elemental composition of prey. Predators increased C:N ratios of detritivorous beetles under high precipitation, but reduced the C:N ratio of the basal resource. Precipitation reduced the N content of filter‐feeding mosquitoes. The observed changes in chemical composition may reflect physiological or developmental responses to stress imposed by both predators and drought. This study demonstrates that the impact of predators and precipitation can vary substantially across a food web, including additive and synergistic effects, and numerical and phenotypic responses.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Importance of interaction rewiring in determining spatial and temporal turnover of tritrophic (Piper‐caterpillar‐parasitoid) metanetworks in the Yucatán Península, México

AbstractNatural history studies documenting spatial and temporal variation of species assemblages and their interactions are critical for understanding biodiversity and community ecology. We characterized caterpillar–parasitoid assemblages on shrubs in the genus Piper across remnants of semi‐evergreen forest in the Yucatán Península during the rainy and rainy–dry seasons. We collected caterpillars feeding on Piper leaves and reared them to adults or parasitoids to: (i) describe tritrophic interactions between Piper, caterpillars, and parasitoids, (ii) compare empirical metanetworks among sites and seasons, and (iii) investigate patterns in species and interaction turnover across spatial and temporal scales to understand the contribution of species composition and interaction rewiring to overall interaction turnover. We found six Piper species supporting 79 species of caterpillars, which in turn hosted 20 species of parasitoids. In total, there were 116 realized trophic interactions. Species and interactions exhibited substantial turnover at temporal and spatial scales. Total interaction turnover was more pronounced across seasons in all sites (>93%), than it was between sites (<91%). We also found that interaction rewiring contributed more to overall interaction turnover than species turnover. The spatial and temporal variation in metanetworks documented here contribute to understanding fine‐scale temporal and spatial turnover in tropical species and interactions and raise important questions about the lability of consumer specialization and the short‐term effects of interaction rewiring on the stability of biotic communities. Our results highlight the importance of tropical food web studies that are based on natural history using consistent field methods to document bi‐ and tripartite interactions.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.