Loss of phytotelmata due to an invasive bromeliad-eating weevil and its potential effects on faunal diversity and biogeochemical cycles |
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| Institution: | 1. Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620, USA;2. Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945-3138, USA;1. The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Harry Hines Blvd., Mail Code 8852, Dallas, TX 75390-8852, USA;2. Hematology/Oncology Associates of the Treasure Coast, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952, USA;3. Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;4. Scott & White Clinic, Hematology-Oncology, Temple, TX 76508, USA;5. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;6. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;7. Eli Lilly and Company, Windlesham GU20 6PH, UK;8. Eli Lilly and Company, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA;9. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA;10. Sotio a.s., 170 00 Prague 7, Czech Republic;11. Eli Lilly and Company, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, UK;12. Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA;1. Museo di Scienze Naturali dell’Alto Adige, via Bottai 1, 39100, Bolzano, Italy;2. Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, I-35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy;3. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany;4. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 10, I-60131, Ancona, AN, Italy;1. School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane 4000, Queensland, Australia;2. Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, 4111 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;1. NSERC/UQAT/UQAM Industrial Chair in Sustainable Forest Management, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445, boulevard de l''Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada;2. Institut des sciences de la forêt tempérée, Université du Québec en Outaouais, 58, rue Principale, Ripon, Québec, J0V 1V0, Canada;1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan;2. Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Kannondai 3-1-3, Tsukuba 305-8604, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Epiphytic tank bromeliads are important ecosystem engineers because they form phytotelmata that create habitat, increase species richness and abundance, create water sources and nutrient reservoirs in the canopy, and collect and redirect nutrients in forest ecosystems. Native bromeliad populations have been devastated in Florida (USA) because an invasive bromeliad-eating weevil (Metamasius callizona) has been destroying the plants. Tillandsia utriculata is a tank bromeliad that was once widespread from central to south Florida. Its populations have been hit hard by the weevil and are declining rapidly. This study quantifies the mortality rate caused by the weevil in a population of T. utriculata at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in central Florida and estimates the associated loss of phytotelmata. Estimations of phytotelmata were calculated for the T. utriculata baseline population, the population at 6 months into the study when 87% of the population was destroyed, and at the end of the study when less than 3% of the bromeliad population remained (99% of all deaths were caused by the weevil). The baseline population contained 16,758 L of water. At six months, there were 3180 L, and at the end of the study, there were 408 L. The loss of phytotelmata results in the loss of habitat, a decrease in biological diversity, and altered water and nutrient cycles and availability. |
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