Are dominant plant species more susceptible to leaf-mining insects? A case study at Saihanwula Nature Reserve, China

Middle Jurassic insect mines on gymnosperms provide missing links to early mining evolution

We investigated the mining mode of insect feeding, involving larval consumption of a plant's internal tissues, from the Middle Jurassic (165 million years ago) Daohugou locality of Northeastern China. Documentation of mining from the Jurassic Period is virtually unknown, and results from this time interval would address mining evolution during the temporal gap of mine-seed plant diversifications from the previous Late Triassic to the subsequent Early Cretaceous. Plant fossils were examined with standard microscopic procedures for herbivory and used the standard functional feeding group-damage-type system of categorizing damage. All fossil mines were photographed and databased. We examined 2014 plant specimens, of which 27 occurrences on 14 specimens resulted in eight, new, mine damage types (DTs) present on six genera of bennettitalean, ginkgoalean, and pinalean gymnosperms. Three conclusions emerge from this study. First, these mid-Mesozoic mines are morphologically conservative and track plant host anatomical structure rather than plant phylogeny. Second, likely insect fabricators of these mines were three basal lineages of polyphagan beetles, four basal lineages of monotrysian moths, and a basal lineage tenthredinoid sawflies. Third, the nutrition hypothesis, indicating that miners had greater access to nutritious, inner tissues of new plant lineages, best explains mine evolution during the mid-Mesozoic.

Rich specialized insect damage on Pliocene leaves from the Mahuadanr Valley (India) growing under a warm climate with weak seasonality

Plant-insect interactions play a crucial role in shaping terrestrial ecosystems, influencing abundance and distribution of plant species. In the present study, we investigated leaf-mining patterns on fossil leaves from Pliocene strata of the Mahuadanr Valley, Jharkhand, eastern India, deposited under a seasonal tropical climate, and reported complex interactions between plants and insects. We identified 11 distinct mining morphotypes. These morphotypes were mainly found on Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, and Moraceae; similar mining traces were also observed in the contemporary vegetation surrounding the fossil site. Although mining richness was relatively high, only 2.6% of all leaves in the fossil assemblage were mined. We compared mining richness and abundance values with previously reported values for galling. While richness was slightly lower for galling, almost 50% of all fossil leaves were galled. A literature survey on mining and galling patterns in modern vegetation suggests that there is no global explanation for richness of mining or gall-inducing insects. Thus, low nutrient availability in the ancient forest, dominance of semideciduous leaves with hard texture, and different habitats in the same forest ecosystem, such as well-drained forests and riparian stands, may all have favored different types of specialized plant-insect interactions.

Field survey of Cassidinae beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and their host plants in southern Guangxi, China

Few systematic studies have been conducted on the faunal composition and food web structure of Cassidinae of China. During 2013-2019, we systematically investigated Cassidinae beetles and their host plants in the southern Guangxi. A total of 2,255 Cassidinae individuals from 66 species, 23 genera and ten tribes were collected in southern Guangxi. Most species belonged to the tribe Hispini (23 species, 34.8%), followed by the tribe Gonophorini (13 species, 19.7%), Cassidini (eight species, 12.1%) and Aspidimorphini (six species, 9.1%). The others (16 species) belonged to the tribes Anisoderini, Botryonopini, Callispini, Oncocephalini, Notosacanthini and Leptispini. The tribe Notosacanthini was recorded from Guangxi for the first time. The genera Neownesia (Botryonopini), Gonophora (Gonophorini), Micrispa (Gonophorini), Notosacantha (Notosacanthini) and Prionispa (Oncocephalini) were firstly recorded in Guangxi. In total, we obtained 47 newly-recorded species in southern Guangxi and 33 newly-recorded species in the whole Guangxi, of which, Callispafrontalis Medvedev, 1992 was newly recorded in China. Dactylispafeae Gestro (625 individuals) and D.chinensis Weise (565 individuals) were the most common species. A total of 69 species, 53 genera and 19 families of host plants were identified for Cassidinae in southern Guangxi. Many host plant associations are new records for Cassidinae. Quantitative food web analysis indicated that Cassidinae species in southern Guangxi primarily fed on Poaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cyperaceae and Rosaceae. Generally, the plant-Cassidinae food webs were moderately complex and stable in southern Guangxi. This is the first large contribution to the knowledge of the species composition and host plant diversity of Cassidinae in southern Guangxi.

Elevational Pattern of Leaf Mine Diversity on Quercus variabilis Blume at Baotianman, Henan, China

The species composition and diversity pattern of leaf miners on dominant trees in China are poorly understood. Using Hill-based diversity metrics, the elevational patterns of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity for leaf miners on Quercus variabilis Blume at Baotianman were systematically analyzed. Leaf mine types belonged to ten genera and seven families. Different leaf miners had different elevational preferences. Most taxonomic and phylogenetic Hill diversity indices had typical hump-shaped elevational patterns, with a peak at the middle elevation of approximately 875 m. No functional Hill diversity indices presented significant linear or nonlinear trends with altitude. The driving factors behind the elevational distribution patterns of leaf miners require further work.

A checklist of gymnosperm-feeding leafminers (Arthopoda, Insecta) in North America and Europe

The leafminers on gymnosperms receive much less attention than those on either angiosperms or ferns. Given the distinctly different leaf shape and leaf venation found in gymnosperms, they would be expected to host significantly different leafminer groups. Very few comprehensive reports on gymnosperm-feeding leafminers have been presented. Based on the well-studied fauna in North America and Europe, we compiled a list of 133 species, 30 genera and 13 families of gymnosperm-feeding leafminers. The gymnosperm-mining families (in descending order of leafminer number) included Tortricidae, Gelechiidae, Argyresthiidae, Yponomeutidae, Batrachedridae, Pyralidae, Adelidae, Agromyzidae, Blastobasidae, Bucculatricidae, Coleophoridae, Curculionidae and Noctuidae. There were 109 species, 22 genera and ten families in North America and 34 species, 19 genera and nine families in Europe. We compiled a list of 102 species and 16 genera of host plants, belonging to four families: Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxaceae and Zamiaceae. There were 84 host species, 15 genera and three host families in North America and 46 host species, ten genera and three host families in Europe. Dominant gymnosperm-mining families and dominant host families were generally the same in the two continents.

Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology, and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Human Diarrheal Cases in Rwanda: A Review

Diarrhea, often caused by microorganisms, has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in Africa. Increased rates of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens have reignited the quest for alternative therapies. This review aimed at identifying medicinal plants used in the treatment of human diarrheal cases in Rwanda and analyzing their ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry. We searched PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and the Web of Science for published articles on medicinal plants used to treat diarrhea in Rwanda. Additionally, specialized herbarium documents of different institutes were reviewed. Articles were assessed for relevance, quality, and taxonomical accuracy before being included in this review. Overall, 63 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 families were recorded. Asteraceae was the predominant family with six species, followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae, with five species each. The most reported species with anti-diarrheal properties were Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd, Clerodendrum myricoides R. Br. and Chenopodium ugandae (Aellen) Aellen. Leaves (66.7%) and roots (17.5%) were the commonly used plant parts in the preparation of medicine. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants with antidiarrheic activities were sesquiterpene lactones (V. amygdalina); terpene, sterols, saponosides, and flavonoids (C. ugandae); saponins and tannins (T. riparia); and tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids (C. myricoides). Six studies tested the antimicrobial activities of the plants against bacteria and viruses known to cause diarrhea. Erythrina abyssinica, Euphorbia tirucalli, Dracaena afromontana, and Ficus thonningii are socio-culturally important. Further research on toxicity and posology is needed to ensure the safety of medicinal plants.

Genomic Characterization of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Thermophilic Campylobacter Strains Isolated from Layer Chicken Feces in Gangneung, South Korea by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Thermophilic Campylobacter species of poultry origin have been associated with up to 80% of human campylobacteriosis cases. Layer chickens have received less attention as possible reservoirs of Campylobacter species. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of two archived Campylobacter isolates (Campylobacter jejuni strain 200605 and Campylobacter coli strain 200606) from layer chickens to five antimicrobials (ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, erythromycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin) were determined using broth microdilution while the presence of selected antimicrobial resistance genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed by the Illumina HiSeq X platform. The analysis involved antimicrobial resistance genes, virulome, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and phylogeny. Both isolates were phenotypically resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC: 32 vs. 32 µg/mL), nalidixic acid (MIC: 128 vs. 64 µg/mL), and tetracycline (MIC: 64 vs. 64 µg/mL), but sensitive to erythromycin (MIC: 1 vs. 2 µg/mL) and gentamicin (MIC: 0.25 vs. 1 µg/mL) for C. jejuni strain 200605 and C. coli strain 200606, respectively. WGS confirmed C257T mutation in the gyrA gene and the presence of cmeABC complex conferring resistance to FQs in both strains. Both strains also exhibited tet(O) genes associated with tetracycline resistance. Various virulence genes associated with motility, chemotaxis, and capsule formation were found in both isolates. However, the analysis of virulence genes showed that C. jejuni strain 200605 is more virulent than C. coli strain 200606. The MLST showed that C. jejuni strain 200605 belongs to sequence type ST-5229 while C. coli strain 200606 belongs to ST-5935, and both STs are less common. The phylogenetic analysis clustered C. jejuni strain 200605 along with other strains reported in Korea (CP028933 from chicken and CP014344 from human) while C. coli strain 200606 formed a separate cluster with C. coli (CP007181) from turkey. The WGS confirmed FQ-resistance in both strains and showed potential virulence of both strains. Further studies are recommended to understand the reasons behind the regional distribution (Korea, China, and Vietnam) of such rare STs.

A preliminary world checklist of fern-mining insects

Compared to the leaf-miners and stem-miners on flowering plants, the miners on ferns (including both Lycopodiophyta and Polypodiophyta in the broad sense) are less known. Knowledge of miners and their host plants is essential to fully understand plant-insect interactions. Although there are many scattered records on fern miners, a worldwide checklist has not been reported. We provide a preliminary checklist of fern-mining insects and their host plants worldwide. Altogether, we found records for 128 species and 18 families of fern miners, mainly that feed on Dennstaedtiaceae, Equisetaceae, Polypodiaceae and Aspleniaceae. Fern miners belonged to four orders: Diptera (51 species; 39.8%), Coleoptera (33 species; 25.8%), Lepidoptera (28 species; 21.9%) and Hymenoptera (16 species; 12.5%). They are primarily known from the Palaearctic Region, Nearctic Region, Neotropical Region and Oriental Region.

Pedunculate Oak Leaf Miners’ Community: Urban vs. Rural Habitat

With the process of urbanization, cities are expanding, while forests are declining. Many conditions in the urban habitats are modified compared to those in the rural ones, so the organisms present reactions to these changes. To determine to what extent the habitat type influences insects, we tested the differences in the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) leaf-mining insect community between urban and rural habitats in Serbia. Lower species richness, abundance, and diversity were determined on trees in the urban environment. Due to the differences in the habitat types, many of the species disappeared, while most of the remaining species declined. The seasonal dynamics of species richness, abundance, and diversity differed between the habitat types. Both rural and urban populations started with low values in May. Subsequently, rural populations gained higher species richness, abundance, and diversity. As about 60% of the leaf miners’ species present in the rural habitats survive on the trees in urban areas, those trees are of great importance as a species reservoir. This is why we need to preserve and strive to improve the condition of urban areas where the pedunculate oak is present.

Green roofs in the tropics: design considerations and vegetation dynamics

Green roofs (GR) have been proposed as a possible solution for urban stressors that, integrated with other remediation and mitigation actions, can lead the way to a more sustainable society. Even when some aspects of green roof design are well established and known (i.e. depth arrangements, materials, structural components, etc.) there is a need for further development on ecological attributes. This study is a descriptive analysis of suitable plant species for their possible incorporation in green roof designs with tropical climate conditions. Green roof research has been mostly led by temperate climate countries and has neglected to address tropical areas; this study aims to move research towards this knowledge gap. The evaluation of the vegetation dynamics in these novel ecosystems was done through a case study in the renovated facilities of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, which incorporated a set of green roofs in their infrastructure. We also sampled an older green roof built in the Social Sciences Faculty at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. A three-dimensional approach, the Point-Intercept Method, was taken in the vegetation surveys to capture as much as possible the green infrastructure of the roofs. Most of the originally planted species did not appear in these surveys. On the contrary, mainly new species dominated the areas. Along with the findings of these surveys and those in other tropical countries, a list of suitable species for green roofs in Puerto Rico is suggested, and some general recommendations are made for the better management of green roofs in tropical zones.

The Cassidinae beetles of Longnan County (Jiangxi, China): overview and community composition

There are few reports on the community composition and diversity pattern of the Cassidinae species of China. Compared to the neighbouring provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang, the Cassidinae richness in Jiangxi Province is under-reported. Longnan City, a biodiversity hotspot in Jiangxi Province, was chosen to obtain the first overview of the Cassidinae beetles. The sample coverage curves for the three sample sites reached an asymptote which indicated sampling was sufficient for data analysis. A total of eight tribes, 16 genera, 59 species and 1590 individuals of Cassidinae beetles were collected. Most belonged to the tribe Hispini (1121 individuals; 70.5%), followed by the tribe Cassidini (161 individuals; 10.13%) and the tribe Oncocephalini (159 individuals; 10.0%). The remainder (149 individuals) belonged to five tribes (Gonophorini, Basiprionotini, Callispini, Notosacanthini and Aspidimorphini). The tribes Notosacanthini, Aspidimorphini and Oncocephalini were newly recorded for Jiangxi Province. There were 14 families, 27 genera and 39 species of host plants of Cassidinae beetles in Longnan County. Cassidinae larvae mainly feed on the plant families Poaceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae. Most host-plant associations are new reords for the beetle species. This research, together with our planned future work in China, may help to explain the geographical distribution, diversity patterns and host plant associations of these beetles.