Favretto et al. 2011 (Article) Animals [Portuguese]

Insects in Two Bromeliad Species in the West of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Author(s):—M.A. Favretto, M.P. Hoeltgebaum, R. Lingnau & F.M. D’agostini

Publication:—EntomoBrasilis 4(1): 10-12. (2011)

Portuguese title:—Entomofauna em Duas Espécies de Bromélias no Oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Abstract:—Bromeliads are plants with outstanding characteristic because the disposition of their leaves allowing the accumulation of water between them, creating real ecosystems on the plant and allowing the refuge and development of various invertebrates, it is a diversity that often goes unnoticed. This study aimed to analyze what is the importance of bromeliads as keepers of biodiversity in the Parque Natural Municipal Rio do Peixe, located in the municipality of Joaçaba, center-west of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil (27º 10’22 “S, 51° 30’33 “W). The Natural Park is located in an area of forest ecotone, characterized by a transition between semideciduous forest and Araucaria forest. The study was conducted from January 2009 to January 2010. Throughout the sampling period were found about 168 invertebrates from 48 bromeliads collected, among which the most abundant orders were Hymenoptera (46 specimens) and Coleoptera (36 specimens). When present in an environment, bromeliads increase the number of resources that can be used by wildlife. Thus, with resources, wildlife can remain in the study area maintaining its abundance and diversity

Keywords:—Ecological interactions; invertebrates; plant-animal interaction