Ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera and their natural enemies on Acacia auriculiformis (Fabales: Fabaceae) plants with or without dehydrated sewage sludge application in a degraded area

Soil fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge (DSS) accelerates the recovery process of degraded areas by improving nutrient concentration, and favors the development of trophic webs with pioneer plants such as Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae), phytophagous Hemiptera, pr...

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Published in:PloS one 2020-08, Vol.15 (8), p.e0237261-e0237261
Main Authors: Dourado, Luan Rocha, Demolin-Leite, Germano Leao, Soares, Marcus Alvarenga, Teixeira, Gustavo Leal, Silva, Farley William Souza, Sampaio, Regynaldo Arruda, Zanuncio, Jose Cola, Legaspi, Jesusa Crisostomo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acacia auriculiformis
Acacias (Plants)
Agriculture
Ants
Bioindicators
Biological indicators
Biology and Life Sciences
Degradation
Dehydration
Ecological effects
Ecological research
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Environmental aspects
Fabaceae
Fabales
Fertilization
Hemiptera
Hemipterans
Indicator species
Insect-plant relationships
Insects
Litter
Medicine and Health Sciences
Methods
Natural enemies
Nitrogen
Nutrient concentrations
Physical Sciences
Physiological aspects
Predators
Recovery
Sewage sludge
Sludge
Soil degradation
Soil fertility
Soil remediation
Soils
Webs
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Summary:Soil fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge (DSS) accelerates the recovery process of degraded areas by improving nutrient concentration, and favors the development of trophic webs with pioneer plants such as Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae), phytophagous Hemiptera, predators, and protocooperanting ants. This study aimed to evaluate the development and production of A. auriculiformis litter with or without dehydrated sewage sludge application and the ecological indices of sucking insects (Hemiptera), their predators and protocooperating ants, as bioindicators, in a degraded area for 24 months. Complete randomization was applied for two treatments (with or without application of dehydrated sewage sludge) in 24 replications (one repetition = one plant). We evaluated the number of leaves/branch and branches/plant, percentage of soil cover (litter), ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera, their predators, and protocooperating ants. The plants of A. auriculiformis, that were applied with dehydrated sewage sludge, had superior development when compared to plants where DSS were not applied. The highest abundance and richness of phytophagous Hemiptera species and Sternorrhyncha predators occurred on A. auriculiformis plants that were applied with dehydrated sewage sludge. The increase in richness of species of protocooperanting ants that established mutualistic relationships positively influenced the phytophagous Hemiptera. The use of A. auriculiformis, with application of dehydrated sewage sludge, can increase recovery of degraded areas due to its higher soil cover (e.g., litter) and results in higher ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera and their predators.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0237261