Species Diversity of Species Diversity of Beneficial and Pest Insects Beneficial and Pest Insects

in Home Gardensin Home Gardens

Cameron, Rachael, Barney, Cameron, Rachael, Barney, Puja, Nathaniel James Johnson, Puja, Nathaniel James Johnson,

Crystal, Christie, John, and Crystal, Christie, John, and JamesJames

Atlantic Forest, BrazilAtlantic Forest, Brazil

SEE-U 2000SEE-U 2000

IntroductionIntroduction

What is the influence of plant biodiversity What is the influence of plant biodiversity in home gardens on insect populations?in home gardens on insect populations?

Agroforestry is becoming increasingly Agroforestry is becoming increasingly utilized in Pontal de Paranapanema as a utilized in Pontal de Paranapanema as a possible method of preserving possible method of preserving biodiversity.biodiversity.– This exercise explores the relationship This exercise explores the relationship

between plant diversity and insect diversity between plant diversity and insect diversity in home gardens.in home gardens.

Methodology Methodology

Three sites of varying plant Three sites of varying plant diversity were studied. diversity were studied. – Two home gardens and one forest area Two home gardens and one forest area

Two pan traps were placed at each Two pan traps were placed at each site on Sunday July 30 and collected site on Sunday July 30 and collected on Wednesday August 2. on Wednesday August 2.

Species were separated on the Species were separated on the basis of morphologybasis of morphology

SitesSites

MangoMango

MiroMiro

Not Pictured: MadeiraNot Pictured: Madeira

Results - AnalysesResults - Analyses

All statistical analyses were non-All statistical analyses were non-significant (chi-square tests)significant (chi-square tests)

Diversity indices could not be Diversity indices could not be calculated because of low within-calculated because of low within-species abundancesspecies abundances

ResultsResults

The graphs constructed were The graphs constructed were species/ samplespecies/ sample ind./sampleind./sample species/sitespecies/site ind/siteind/site plant species/siteplant species/site

Plant species/sitePlant species/site

Plant species per site

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miro mango madiera

site

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Parasitoids and Homopterans found in three Home Gardens

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Madiera A Madiera B Mango A Mango B Miro A Miro B

Site Samples

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HomopteranParasitoid

Insect Abundance / Insect Abundance / SampleSample

Homopteran and Parasitoid Species found at three Home Gardens

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MadieraA

MadieraB

Mango A Mango B Miro A Miro B

Site Samples

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HomopteranParasitoid

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Insect Richness / SampleInsect Richness / Sample

Number of Individuals found at each Home Garden

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Madiera Mango Miro

Home Garden Site

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HomopteranParasitoid

Overall Insect AbundanceOverall Insect Abundance

Number of Species Found at each Home Garden

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Madiera Mango Miro

Home Garden Site

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Overall Insect RichnessOverall Insect Richness

ConclusionConclusion

Species diversity of homopterans and Species diversity of homopterans and parasitoids was found to be highly parasitoids was found to be highly variable between sites.variable between sites.

Only one site had a repeated species.Only one site had a repeated species.– The site with the highest plant species The site with the highest plant species

diversity also had the highest parasitoid diversity also had the highest parasitoid diversity. This site also had the second diversity. This site also had the second highest number of homopteran species. highest number of homopteran species.

Conclusions ContinuedConclusions Continued

This study suggests a positive This study suggests a positive relationship between high plant relationship between high plant diversity and highly beneficial diversity and highly beneficial (parasitoids) insects.(parasitoids) insects.

For more conclusive results this For more conclusive results this research should be replicated.research should be replicated.