Arthropods on Terminalia argentea (Combretaceae) fertilized with sewage sludge

Authors

  • Sarah Stephane Diamantina da Costa Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
  • Germano Leão Demolin Leite Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
  • Farley William Souza Silva Universidade Federal do Acre https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2651-9375
  • José Barbosa dos Santos Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Agronomia, Diamantina, MG, Brazil
  • Alcinei Místico Azevedo Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil
  • Regynaldo Arruda Sampaio Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazi
  • José Cola Zanuncio Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil

Abstract

We tested the effects of dehydrated sewage sludge fertilization on leaf mass production and ground cover of Terminalia argentea Mart. & Zucc. (Combretaceae) trees. In addition, we determined the abundance, diversity, and species richness of phytophagous Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha predators (Hemiptera), and protocooperating ants visiting those plants. Numbers of leaves per branch, branches per tree, percentage of ground cover, abundance, species richness of phytophagous Hemiptera and Sternorrhyncha predators, including diversity of protocooperating ants, were greater on T. argentea trees fertilized with dehydrated sewage compared with unfertilized trees. We conclude that the addition of the dehydrated sludge aided the recovery of the severely disturbed area by increased fertilization of T. argentea trees used in the restorative process and increased the associated arthropod fauna.

Resumo

Testamos os efeitos da adubação com lodo de esgoto desidratado na produção de massa foliar e cobertura do solo por árvores de Terminalia argentea Mart. & Zucc. (Combretaceae). Além disso, determinamos abundância, diversidade e riqueza de espécies de Hemiptera fitófago, predadores de Sternorrhyncha (Hemiptera) e formigas protocooperantes visitando aquelas plantas. O número de folhas para galho, galhos para árvore, porcentagem de cobertura do solo, e a abundância e riqueza de espécies de Hemiptera fitófago e predadores de Sternorrhyncha incluindo diversidade de formigas protocooperantes foram maiores em árvores de T. argentea fertilizadas com lodo de esgoto desidratado comparado com árvores não adubadas. Concluímos que a adição do lodo de esgoto desidratado auxiliou na recuperação da área severamente perturbada pelo aumento da fertilização das árvores de T. argentea utilizadas no processo restaurador e aumento da fauna de artrópodes associados.

Key Words: insect diversity; ground cover; plant fertilization; restoration ecology

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Published

2021-08-04

Issue

Vol. 104, No. 2 (June 2021)

Section

Research Papers

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