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Bottom-Up Effects on Gall Distribution

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Neotropical Insect Galls

Abstract

The global pattern of insect gall distribution predicts that the highest richness of such insect guild is found in hot, dry and nutritionally poor environments. In search for a mechanism for this pattern, most studies have focused on top-down effects, such as predation and parasitism, which could potentially be weakened in those stressful environments and favour gall survivorship. In this chapter, however, we examine bottom-up effects that could also be suppressed under environmental stress and, therefore, create suitable hosts for galling insects. We discuss how plants can defend against galling insects and the role of such defences in shaping the pattern of gall distribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Milton Barbosa

  2. Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade/DBG, ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 30161 970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Geraldo Wilson Fernandes

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  1. Milton Barbosa
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Correspondence to Milton Barbosa .

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  1. Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade/DBG, ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Geraldo Wilson Fernandes

  2. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Jean Carlos Santos

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Barbosa, M., Fernandes, G.W. (2014). Bottom-Up Effects on Gall Distribution. In: Fernandes, G., Santos, J. (eds) Neotropical Insect Galls. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8783-3_6

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