Insect Biodiversity in the Afrotropical Region

Scholtz, Clarke H.; Mansell, M. W.

doi:10.1002/9781444308211.ch5

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Dung beetles are principally important in the maintenance of pasture health by burying dung, which has the effect of removing surface wastes and recycling nutrients that can be used by plants. Negative environmental effects, such as loss of grass cover, growth of unpalatable grass, leaching of nutrients in surface rainwater runoff, and the buildup of large populations of dung-breeding flies, that resulted from a lack of dung beetles contributing the needed ecosystem function were seen in Australia before the introduction of dung beetles adapted to cattle dung [46]. Dung beetles contribute to soil health by increasing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium or total proteins content [47].…”

Section: Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Insects in Agricultural Ecosystems

Jankielsohn¹

2018

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Sufficient food production for a growing human population has become an issue of global concern. Almost all of the world's fertile land is currently in use and arable land areas cannot be expanded significantly. The global challenge is to secure high and quality yields and to make agricultural production environmentally compatible. Insects have been hugely successful in terms of both species richness and abundance. Insects make up the most numerous group of organisms on earth, around 66% of all animal species, and being good dispersers and exploiters of virtually all types of organic matter, can be found almost everywhere, forming an important part of every ecosystem and are vital within our food supply chains performing valuable ecosystem services. Insects have been predominantly perceived as competitors in the race for survival. Herbivorous insects damage 18% of world agricultural production. Despite this damage less than 0.5 percentage of the total number of the known insect species are considered pests. Insect pests are created through the manipulation of habitats by humans, where crops are selected for larger size, higher yields, nutritious value, and are cultivated in monocultures for maximum production. This provides a highly favourable environment for the population increase of herbivorous insects. To ensure stable crop yields we need to change the management strategies of agroecosystems. We need to manage these systems in such a way that insects performing valuable ecosystem services are also incorporated into the system. This will ensure stable, resilient and sustainable systems in a constantly changing environment and will go a long way to ensure future food security. This paper examines the important role that insects generally play in ecosystems and how the services that insects provide can improve agricultural ecosystems.

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Section: Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Insects in Agricultural Ecosystems

Jankielsohn¹

2018

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“…Many are endemic and their distribution is determined by the restricted distribution of plants and insects (Lachance et al , 2005). However, collecting efforts have not been uniform and surprisingly, given that the African continent is a likely hot-spot of biodiversity for yeasts (Robert et al , 2006) and has regions that are reservoirs of plant and entomofauna biodiversity (Myers et al , 2000; Scholtz & Mansell, 2009), very few investigations of yeasts associated with angiosperms and their insect pollinators have been conducted in Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metschnikowia proteae sp. nov., a nectarivorous insect-associated yeast species from Africa

Vega

Guzmán

Lachance

et al. 2012

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

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A collection of yeasts isolated from nectar of flowers of Protea caffra (Proteaceae) and associated scarab beetles (Atrichelaphinis tigrina, Cyrtothyrea marginalis, Trichostetha fascicularis and Heterochelus sp.) and drosophilid flies in South Africa, contained 28 isolates that could not be assigned to known species. Comparisons of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene demonstrated the existence of three separate phylotypes with an affinity to the genus Metschnikowia and more specifically to the beetle-associated large-spored Metschnikowia clade. Twenty-six strains that had similar D1/D2 sequences were mixed in all pairwise combinations. They were found to mate and give rise to large asci typical of those in the clade. The name Metschnikowia proteae sp. nov. (type strain EBDT1Y1 T 5CBS 12522T 5NRRL Y-48784 T ; allotype strain EBDC2Y25CBS 125215NRRL Y-48785) is proposed to accommodate this novel species. The ecology of this novel yeast species is discussed in relation to its potential plant and insect host species. The additional two single strains isolated from Heterochelus sp. represent two novel undescribed species (Candida sp. 1 EBDM2Y3 and Candida sp. 2 EBDM8Y1). As these single strains are probably haploid mating types of Metschnikowia species, their description is deferred until the species are sufficiently well sampled to permit meaningful descriptions.

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Lepidopterology in Southern Africa: Past, Present and Future

Ball

2012

Insect Conservation: Past, Present and Prospects

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Insect Biodiversity in the Afrotropical Region

Cited by 11 publications

References 28 publications

The Importance of Insects in Agricultural Ecosystems

The Importance of Insects in Agricultural Ecosystems

Metschnikowia proteae sp. nov., a nectarivorous insect-associated yeast species from Africa

Lepidopterology in Southern Africa: Past, Present and Future

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