Galls induced by Calophya latiforceps (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) reduce leaf performance and growth of Brazilian peppertree

Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae) (Brazilian peppertree) is one of the most serious terrestrial invasive plants in Florida. The leaf galling psyllid, Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Calophyidae), was discovered feeding on the Brazilian peppertree in Bahia, Brazil, in 2010, and is being evaluated for release as a biological control agent. In order to understand how this candidate biological control agent affects the growth of S. terebinthifolia, we measured the effect of the psyllid on photosynthesis, leaf chlorophyll content and plant growth. Infested plants had lower photosynthesis compared to uninfested plants 30 and 45 days after gall initiation, and chlorophyll content was lower over a 70-d period. Plant height was reduced 31% and biomass 11% after three months of infestation. Results of these studies suggest that C. latiforceps will negatively affect the growth of the Brazilian peppertree if released in Florida.     

Calling site selection by the bromeliad-dwelling treefrog Phyllodytes melanomystax (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae) in a coastal sand dune habitat

We studied bromeliad selection by calling males of Phyllodytes melanomystax. The study site was a restinga environment in the northeastern state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We sampled 202 bromeliads, 101 with and 101 without calling males. We used multiple logistic regression analysis and Wald test to identify which of nine environmental variables investigated could explain the occurrence of calling males within bromeliads. The presence/absence of calling males in bromeliads was influenced by the number of bromeliads in a 2 m radius and the amount of debris inside the rosettes, while physical variables of bromeliads and the volume of stored water inside their rosettes had no influence. The mark-recapture procedure of P. melanomystax revealed site fidelity. This study is the first to explain the pattern of bromeliad selection by a species of the bromeliad-dwelling frog genus Phyllodytes.