Population fluctuation of Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Yucatán Península and its relation with the environmental conditions

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Abstract

Abstract The Central American Locust Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons is one of the most damaging plant pest in Mexico and Central America. The present work was carried out to evaluate the seasonal population fluctuation of S. p. piceifrons and vegetation diversity and their association with weather factors and edaphic conditions in the gregarious zone of the Yucatán Península. The study was performed in seven sites during three seasons: North-wind (December 2013), rainy (June 2014) and dry (April 2014). The locust density was sampled in transect of 100 m2, as well as the vegetation in 16 m2: plant species richness (PSR) and relative species density (RSD), and analyzed by generalized linear models. Additionally, soil samples were obtained at 10 cm depth into a 4 × 6 m quadrat, land use in the sites was classified and temperature, precipitation and evaporation of each site were obtained from the database and they were analyzed with multiple factor analysis. The population density of S. p. piceifrons was higher in the sites Panaba, Tizimin, Tunkas and Cenotillo (F= 74.3, P < 0.0001). Characterization of vegetation showed that PSR and RSD were higher during the rainy season relative to those in the dry season (F= 50.4, P < 0.0001). RSD was identified as the most important group associated with locust density (0.86), followed by isotherm/isohyets (0.63), maximum precipitation and temperature (0.60), as well as the land use (0.65); no correlation between locust density and soil characteristics was found. Locust density was positively correlated with the abundance of the grass Panicum maximum (Sr2= 0.85, PC5= 0.87). This work shows that the population of S. p. piceifrons is high in the rainy season and influenced primarily by the abundance of the grass P. maximum and the precipitation. The results indicate that surveys for early detection and control of the locust on the Yucatán Península can focus on areas with the grass P. maximum to predict risk areas and target survey efforts. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 403-414. Epub 2018 March 01.

Translated abstract

Resumen La langosta Centroamericana Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons es una de las plagas más dañinas en México y Centroamérica. El presente trabajo se realizó para evaluar la fluctuación estacional de poblaciones de S. p. piceifrons y su asociación con la diversidad de vegetación, factores climáticos y edáficos en la zona gregarígena de la Península de Yucatán. Se seleccionaron siete sitios y se muestrearon a lo largo de tres estaciones: nortes (diciembre 2013), lluvias (junio 2014) y sequías (abril 2014). La densidad poblacional de la langosta fue muestreada en transectos de 100 m2, así como la vegetación en 16 m2 obteniendo la riqueza de especies vegetales (REV) y la densidad relativa de especies (DRE), y fueron analizadas por modelos lineales generalizados. Adicionalmente se obtuvieron muestras de suelo de 10 cm de profundidad en un área de 4 × 6 m, se clasificó el uso del suelo de cada sitio y se obtuvieron en una base de datos las condiciones de temperatura, precipitación y evaporación para cada sitio, estos datos se analizaron con análisis de factores múltiples. La densidad poblacional de S. p. piceifrons fue mayor en los sitios de Panaba, Tizimin, Tunkas y Cenotillo (F= 74.3, P < 0.0001). La caracterización de la vegetación mostró que la REV y la DRE fueron mayores en la estación de lluvias que en la de sequías (F= 50.4, P < 0.0001). La DRE fue el grupo más importante asociado a la densidad de la langosta (0.86), seguido por las isotermas/isoyetas (0.63) y la precipitación-temperatura máxima (0.60), así como el uso del suelo (0.65); no hubo correlación con las características del suelo. La densidad de la langosta fue correlacionada positivamente con la abundancia del pasto Panicum maximum (Sr2= 0.85, PC5= 0.87). El estudio mostró que las poblaciones de S. p. piceifrons fueron mayores en la estación lluviosa e influenciadas principalmente por la abundancia del pasto P. maximum y la precipitación. Los resultados indican que las exploraciones, la detección temprana y el control de la langosta en la Península de Yucatán puede enfocarse sobre áreas cultivadas con P. maximum para predecir áreas con riesgo y eficientar los recursos.

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C4 photosynthesis and water stress.

Oula Ghannoum (2009)

In contrast to C(3) photosynthesis, the response of C(4) photosynthesis to water stress has been less-well studied in spite of the significant contribution of C(4) plants to the global carbon budget and food security. The key feature of C(4) photosynthesis is the operation of a CO(2)-concentrating mechanism in the leaves, which serves to saturate photosynthesis and suppress photorespiration in normal air. This article reviews the current state of understanding about the response of C(4) photosynthesis to water stress, including the interaction with elevated CO(2) concentration. Major gaps in our knowledge in this area are identified and further required research is suggested. Evidence indicates that C(4) photosynthesis is highly sensitive to water stress. With declining leaf water status, CO(2) assimilation rate and stomatal conductance decrease rapidly and photosynthesis goes through three successive phases. The initial, mainly stomatal phase, may or may not be detected as a decline in assimilation rates depending on environmental conditions. This is because the CO(2)-concentrating mechanism is capable of saturating C(4) photosynthesis under relatively low intercellular CO(2) concentrations. In addition, photorespired CO(2) is likely to be refixed before escaping the bundle sheath. This is followed by a mixed stomatal and non-stomatal phase and, finally, a mainly non-stomatal phase. The main non-stomatal factors include reduced activity of photosynthetic enzymes; inhibition of nitrate assimilation, induction of early senescence, and changes to the leaf anatomy and ultrastructure. Results from the literature about CO(2) enrichment indicate that when C(4) plants experience drought in their natural environment, elevated CO(2) concentration alleviates the effect of water stress on plant productivity indirectly via improved soil moisture and plant water status as a result of decreased stomatal conductance and reduced leaf transpiration. It is suggested that there is a limited capacity for photorespiration or the Mehler reaction to act as significant alternative electron sinks under water stress in C(4) photosynthesis. This may explain why C(4) photosynthesis is equally or even more sensitive to water stress than its C(3) counterpart in spite of the greater capacity and water use efficiency of the C(4) photosynthetic pathway.