The role of the host-specific grasshopper <i>Cornops aquaticum</i> (Orthoptera: Acrididae) as consumer of native <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> (Pontederiaceae) floating meadows
<i>Cornops aquaticum</i> is a widely distributed semiaquatic grasshopper in the Neotropics. The development, feeding and oviposition of <i>C. aquaticum</i> take place on Pontederiaceae, especially on species of <i>Eichhornia</i>. Several aspects of the feeding of...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Articulo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2010
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| Acceso en línea: | http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/101287 https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/11336/42247 https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/3407 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | <i>Cornops aquaticum</i> is a widely distributed semiaquatic grasshopper in the Neotropics. The development, feeding and oviposition of <i>C. aquaticum</i> take place on Pontederiaceae, especially on species of <i>Eichhornia</i>. Several aspects of the feeding of <i>C. aquaticum</i> are studied because is one of the most important herbivores of the highly invasive floating <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> in native areas. The aims of this paper were: (1) to quantify the amount of <i>E. crassipes</i> consumed by <i>C. aquaticum</i>, (2) to determine the growth rate and the conversion efficiency of food ingested by this grasshopper, and (3) to determine the possible effect of consumption on <i>E. crassipes</i> productivity. Thirty individuals from each specific age class were used in the experiment: nymphs A, nymphs B, adult males and adult females. Insects were individually confined in plastic pots with a leaf of <i>E. crassipes</i>. We estimated feeding by individual, consumption index (CI), relative growth rate (GR) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food to body substance (ECI). The impact of <i>C. aquaticum</i> consumption on <i>E. crassipes</i> floating meadows was assessed with the abundance of the grasshopper, and the available data on primary production of the host plant at the study site. Food intake of <i>C. aquaticum</i> was 11.23% of plant productivity. Food consumption, growth rate and food conversion efficiency of this grasshopper varied according to the specific age classes. Damage caused by <i>C. aquaticum</i> is high in comparison with the damage caused by other semiaquatic and grassland grasshoppers, however it is not enough to prevent the growth and coverage of native <i>E. crassipes</i> floating meadows because abundance of grasshoppers are realtively low and the growth rate and productivity of the host plant is high. |
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