Insect Responses to Fires

New, Tim R.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-08096-3_2

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 82 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Understanding these drivers of species diversity and distribution is pertinent to designing important conservation strategies in disturbed landscapes. Fire is one of the major factors driving floral diversity in many terrestrial ecosystems (New ) and has a positive influence on plant productivity and diversity at various local and landscape scales (Pausas and Ribeiro ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time since fire strongly and variously influences anthophilous insects in a fire‐prone landscape

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drivers of species productivity and ecosystem function are of great ecological significance. In fire‐prone ecosystems, dispersion patterns of important pollinator species are driven by the various fire events over space and time. However, different species have varying responses to fire intensity and frequency. Here, we assess how time since last fire influences abundance, composition, and dispersion patterns of flowering plants and anthophiles in a highly fire‐prone landscape. We classified study area into age since last fire, which were <1 yr (short‐term burned), 2–3 yr (medium‐term burned), and 9–10 yr (long‐term burned). We collected insect anthophiles using yellow, blue, and white pan traps at sites established in each post‐fire class. We also estimated flower abundance at each study site. Overall, anthophile abundance was highest in medium‐term burned, while lowest in short‐term burned sites. Also, flower abundance was highest at medium‐term burned and lowest in long‐term burned sites. Species composition of flowering plants and anthophiles, especially bees and flies, differed significantly across post‐fire class. Overall, flower abundance had a significant positive effect on bee abundance. Of all the taxa, bees were the only group that showed dispersion patterns reflecting those of flower abundance. Other factors, especially requirements for other resources such as logs, drive the distribution of other anthophile taxa, especially flies. We conclude that fire drives the distribution patterns of bees through its direct effect on flower abundance and composition in a fire‐prone landscape. While high frequency of short‐term fire may reduce flower abundance, flower‐rich areas with moderate time since fire may increase diversity of anthophiles in this fire‐prone landscape.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time since fire strongly and variously influences anthophilous insects in a fire‐prone landscape

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…plant (Leal et al, 2015;Giliomee 1986), and protect seeds from fire (Bond & Slingsby, 1984;Leal et al, 2015;New, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Simarouba versicolor (Simaroubaceae) Dispersal by the Leaf-Cutter Ant Atta sexdens

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The importance of Simarouba versicolor St. Hil. fruit dispersal by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (L.) was studied in the Cerrado, Tocantins, Brazil. The trees and nests were located between a forest area and a Brachiaria decumbens Stapf pasture. Seeds were collected in October 2015 along foraging trails and on the anthill of an A. sexdens colony. Germination of three groups of seeds was tested: (1) seeds with the tegument removed by the ants; (2) seeds without tegument, cleaned manually, and (3) seeds with tegument. The germination rates for the three treatments were similar; however, it was verified that the seeds cleaned by ants germinated faster. In addition, it was verified that the ants dispersed the seeds by at least 20 meters in the study area. Simarouba versicolor is a plant studied for its insecticidal properties, and this is the first study to our knowledge reporting its dispersal by ants.

show abstract

Insect Responses to Fires

Cited by 2 publications

References 82 publications

Time since fire strongly and variously influences anthophilous insects in a fire‐prone landscape

Time since fire strongly and variously influences anthophilous insects in a fire‐prone landscape

Simarouba versicolor (Simaroubaceae) Dispersal by the Leaf-Cutter Ant Atta sexdens

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About