INVESTIGADORES
CAMPANELLA Maria Victoria
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Advances in the knowledge of the feeding ecology of Nyctelia circumundata Lesne (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in northeastern Patagonia
Autor/es:
CHELI, GERMÁN H.; BISIGATO, ALEJANDRO J.; MARTÍNEZ, FERNANDO J.; MARTÍNEZ-ROMÁN, NICOLÁS; SAIN, CLAUDIA L.; CAMPANELLA, MA. VICTORIA
Lugar:
Mendoza
Reunión:
Simposio; Fourth International Tenebrionoidea Symposium; 2015
Resumen:
Tenebrionidae is themost abundant coleopteran family inhabiting the northeastern Patagoniaand Nyctelia circumundata Lesne is one of the most conspicuous darkling beetlesin the region. Tenebrionids are typically considered as scavengers,nevertheless there are records of some species feeding on living plants. Inthis contribution, using laboratory bioassays (two-way choice tests), thefeeding ecology of N. circumundata is studied asking the following questions:this beetle feeds on living plants? If it is true, it exhibits any feedingpreference pattern? It would be able that this beetle consumes any invasivespecie? Plant water stress could affect the food selectivity of this beetle?How chemical and physical plant attributes influence the food selectionprocess? As a result N. circumundata feeds on living plant and exhibited adefined feeding preference pattern. Even consuming the invasive specieDiplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC., which has turned out to be the most consumeditem. N. circumundata did not show preference by any water supply regimes.These results suggest that the classical feeding concept about tenebrionidswould be modified. The preference pattern observed could be consequence of acomplex interaction between plant energetic attributes, palatability andmetabolic requirements. Probably the food selection process would be ahierarchical process where chemical attributes are taken into account forspecies selection and physical attributes for choosing individuals insidespecies. The fact that D. tenuifolia was a preferred item suggests thedevelopment of new interactions among native insects and invasive plants, whichmay bring about new ecological implications