Oviposition site selection by the bromeliad-dweller harvestman Bourguyia hamata (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Abstract

Bourguyia hamata females oviposit almost exclusively inside the rosette formed by the curled leaves of the epiphytic bromeliad Aechmea nudicaulis. We investigated whether the architecture of the individual bromeliads influences oviposition site selection by this harvestman species. We collected data on the presence of clutches inside bromeliads, rosette length, rosette slope in relation to tree trunks, and the amount of debris inside the rosette. Additionally, we measured the water volume inside the rosettes as well as the variation in the humidity inside and outside bromeliads with long and short rosettes. Longer rosettes were preferred as oviposition site possibly because they accumulate more water and maintain lower internal humidity variation than the external environment. Although the slope of the rosettes did not influence the occurrence of oviposition, the probability of debris accumulation inside the rosettes increased with their slope, and the frequency of clutches was greater in bromeliads with small amounts of debris. A field experiment showed that bromeliads with water inside the rosette were more frequently used as oviposition sites than bromeliads without water. In conclusion, females oviposit predominantly in bromeliads that accumulate more water and have small amounts of debris inside the rosettes, probably because these characteristics promote a more adequate microhabitat for egg development.

Anurans of the sandy coastal plains of the Lagamar Paulista, state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…A common characteristic of all sandy coastal plains of Brazil is the presence of species of the family Bromeliaceae (Freitas et al 2000, Cogliatti-Carvalho et al 2001. In these habitats, bromeliads play a fundamental role in the establishment of other species (Zaluar & Scarano 2000), particularly by providing resources to several animal species (see examples in Osses et al 2008). …”

Investimento parental e papéis sexuais em opiliões com cuidado paternal exclusivo

“…The female was also observed cannibalizing one egg, but her permanence time could not be estimated because she was apparently disturbed by the head-lamp during the nocturnal observation. Contrary to other harvestman species exhibiting maternal care (e.g., Buzatto and Machado 2008;Osses et al 2008), oviposition site quality does not affect female preference.…”

A new species of Charinus Simon 1892 from Brazil, with notes on behavior (Amblypygi, Charinidae)

“…As a starting point to understand the biology and ecology of an animal, behavioral repertoires (or ethograms) are important tools and give information about animal’s main activities, peaks of activity, interactions, and how it distributes its activities during the day (Beck 1972, Del-Claro 2004, Lehner 1996). This kind of study allows quantitative comparisons of behavioral repertoires among different species and between individuals of different sexes (Osses et al 2008). The observations of a given animal are represented in tables of qualification (description of behavioral categories) and quantification (frequency of each behavioral category in t time) of the acts (Del-Claro 2004, Santos et al 2003).…”

“…Few studies have been published on the behavioral repertoires of arachnids, including Opiliones (Elpino-Campos et al 2001, Osses et al 2008, Pereira et al 2004), Scorpiones (Mineo et al 2003), Ricinulei (García et al 2015), Schizomida (Oliveira and Ferreira 2014) and Thelyphonida (Punzo 2000). There are also few works on Amblypygi, including a study on Charinus asturius Pinto-da-Rocha, Machado and Weygoldt, 2002 (Pinto-da-Rocha et al 2002), and two papers on Heterophrynus sp.…”