Abstract Detail

Ecology

Koptur, Suzanne [1], Salas, Andrea [2].

Native and exotic Senna spp. (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) of southern Florida: herbivore fauna in natural and urban areas.

Foliage and flowers of leguminous plants in the genus Senna, as well as Cassia and Chamaecrista, are food for a variety of arthropods. We systematically observed patterns of herbivory on native species in several natural areas and garden areas in the urban environment (Senna mexicana var. chapmannii, S. fasciculata, Chamaecrista deeringiana, and C. lineata var. keyensis), collecting arthropods on the plants, rearing larvae where required to determine the species of herbivores using the various hostplants. We also monitored non-native species (S. alata, S. bicapsularis, S. surratensis, Cassia fistula, and C. javanica) in natural and urban areas in Miami and the Florida Keys. All the Senna and Chamaecrista species have foliar nectaries, and ant visitors to these extrafloral nectaries; other predators, as well as parasitoids, also utilize the extrafloral nectar. We found that all these species serve as hostplants for sulfur butterflies (Pieridae), but stem-tip tying tortricid (Phyticinae) moth caterpillars are much more common on the native hostplant species. Differences in leaf longevity and flowering strategies may also affect the numbers of herbivores on these plants.

1 - Florida International University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
2 - Florida International University, Department of Earth and Environment, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

Keywords:
Herbivory
Extrafloral nectar
caterpillar
congener
natives
Non-native
exotic
ants
parasitoids
predators
butterfly
moth.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 6, Ecology Section: Population Biology
Location: 201/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 10:45 AM
Number: 6009
Abstract ID:638
Candidate for Awards:None