Host specificity of a Brazilian mistletoe, Struthanthus aff. polyanthus (Loranthaceae), in cerrado tropical savanna |
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Authors: | Rafael Arruda Luclia Nobre Carvalho Kleber Del-Claro |
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Institution: | Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CP 593, 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brazil |
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Abstract: | The aim of this study was to determine if the mistletoe Struthanthus aff. polyanthus shows host specificity, and if host abundance and twig architecture influence this specificity in Cerrado (senso strictu). An area of 1.3 ha of natural savanna was sampled for the occurrence of the mistletoe. The twigs of the hosts were classified as vertical or horizontal, and the bark as smooth or rough. We sampled a total of 666 trees in the study site and 118 individuals (17.7%) hosted S. aff. polyanthus. The abundance of mistletoe was significantly affected by the bark type, but not by the twigs inclination. In the cerrado, S. aff. polyanthus seems to be a generalist, with a tendency to be more common on some hosts (Kielmeyera coriacea, Pouteria ramiflora and Styrax ferrugineus), prefering that with rough bark type. |
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Keywords: | Cerrado Hemiparasitic plants Host– parasite interaction Host susceptible Plant architecture |
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