Species composition and structure of Thysanoptera communities in different microhabitats at the Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, RS

Abstract

Although thrips are known as inhabitants of flowers, they are also abundant and diverse in other microhabitats. There is an information gap concerning them, especially related to the native fauna in southern Brazil. The structure and composition of the thysanopteran community in different microhabitats was studied at the "Parque Estadual de Itapuã" (30° 22' S 51° 02' W), RS, southern Brazil. Between June 1999 and May 2001, branches (n = 1,274), flowers (n = 774), grass tussocks (n = 596) and leaf litter (n = 603) were sampled systematically in 20 points of four trails (T1 -Pedreira beach, T2 -Araçá beach, T3 -Lagoinha, and T4 -Grota hill). We found 2,197 adult thrips determined in 73 species in 41 genera, of which 37 could be nominated. Four families are represented, Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Heterothripidae and Merothripidae, with the first the most abundant (N = 1,599) and with the highest species richness (S = 32). The highest thrips abundance occurred in flowers N = 1,224 and the highest number of exclusive species occurred in the leaf litter (27). Frankliniella rodeos Moulton, 1933, Frankliniella gemina Bagnall, 1919 and Smicrothrips particula Hood, 1952 comprise 49.4% of the total sampled. Regarding T2, we obtained the highest abundance (N = 935) and highest species richness (S = 43). The composition of the faunas in each kind of environment proved very particular.Keywords: thrips, Thysanoptera, communities, microhabitats. RESUMO Estrutura e composição de espécies de comunidades de Thysanoptera em diferentes micro-hábitats no Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, RSEmbora os tripes sejam conhecidos como habitantes de flores, também são abundantes e diversos em outros micro-hábitats. Há uma lacuna de informações neste sentido, especialmente sobre a fauna nativa no Sul do Brasil. Entre junho de 1999 a maio de 2001, ramos (n = 1.274), flores (n = 774), touceiras de gramíneas (n = 596) e folhedo (n = 603) foram amostrados sistematicamente em 20 pontos de quatro trilhas (T1 -Praia da Pedreira, T2 -Praia do Araçá, T3 -Lagoinha, e T4 -Morro da Grota). Resultaram 2.197 tripes adultos determinados em 73 espécies de 41 gêneros, das quais 37 puderam ser nominadas. Quatro famílias estão representadas, Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Heterothripidae e Merothripidae, sendo a primeira mais abundante (N = 1.599) com a maior riqueza de espécies (S = 32). A maior abundância de tripes ocorreu nas flores (N = 1.224) e o maior número de espécies exclusivas ocorreu no folhedo (27).

Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with flowers in a restinga fragment in northeastern Brazil

“…In southern Brazil, other studies in a natural area found a thrips richness in Itapuã State Park (Cavalleri, 2005;Pinent et al, 2005Pinent et al, , 2006 that is double the level observed in our study. However, the incomplete stabilization of the species-accumulation curve indicates that a higher richness of thrips species may be found in the fragments of coastal vegetation sampled.…”

“…Apart from Treherniella sp., all thrips species sampled in our study have been found in surveys conducted in different states of Brazil, i.e. Piauí and Maranhão (Lima and Zucchi, 2016), Rio Grande do Norte and Rio Grande do Sul (Pinent et al, 2005(Pinent et al, , 2006.…”

Structure and Composition of a Thrips Community in the Chihuahua Desert, New Mexico, U.S.

“…Owing to the unceasing destruction of natural environments, any information on species diversity has become critically important to understand the functioning of natural communities. Thrips are not currently endangered or threatened, and their survival is based on the conservation of their host plants and habitats (Pinent et al 2006).…”

New records of thrips (Thysanoptera) species in Brazil

“…About 520 Thysanoptera species in 139 genera and six families are known from Brazil, representing nearly 10% of the worldwide described species (Monteiro 2002). However, recent studies and observations indicate a large number of unrecorded and undescribed species in Brazilian territory (Pinent et al 2006, Cavalleri & Kaminski 2007.…”