Data from: Linking Avicennia germinans (Acanthaceae) architecture to gall richness and abundance in Brazilian Amazon mangroves

The diversity and abundance of gall-inducing organisms are directly proportional to the structural complexity of the host plant. This hypothesis is controversial for forest environments, such as mangroves. Avicennia germinans (L.), a principal mangrove tree species found in the Neotropical region, is considered to be a superhost for gall-inducing insects. Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) based on the analysis of 1000 apical branches from 50 A. germinans trees, we examined the diversity and abundance of gall morphotypes (GM), together with the structural attributes of replanted 5- to 9-year-old mangroves, in the Amazon coast of Brazil. A total of 7602 galls were registered, averaging 1.3±0.4 galls per leaf. Sixteen of the 22 morphotypes identified were found at all study sites. Two gall morphotypes (GM7 and GM4) were the most abundant, representing approximately 40 percent of the total. The structural complexity of the plant (mainly based on the number of leaves) directly affected the abundance and diversity of these organisms. While A. germinans is a superhost, this type of parasitism did not affect plant development or survival. The ample distribution of A. germinans, the formation of monospecific forests, and the high palatability of this plant make it an essential resource for the survival of the gall-inducing guild in the mangroves of the Neotropics.

致瘿生物的多样性与丰度与宿主植物的结构复杂度呈正相关，这一假说在红树林等森林生态系统中存在争议。分布于新热带区的优势红树林树种海榄雌（Avicennia germinans (L.)）被认为是致瘿昆虫的超级宿主。本研究以巴西亚马逊海岸人工种植的5~9年生红树林为对象，采集50株海榄雌的1000根顶枝开展分析，采用广义线性混合模型（Generalized Linear Mixed Model, GLMM），探究了虫瘿形态型（gall morphotypes, GM）的多样性与丰度，以及宿主植物的结构特征。本次研究共计记录到7602个虫瘿，平均每片叶着生1.3±0.4个虫瘿；在鉴定出的22种形态型中，16种在所有研究样地均有分布。两种虫瘿形态型（GM4与GM7）丰度最高，合计占总虫瘿数的约40%。宿主植物的结构复杂度（主要以叶片数量为衡量依据）直接影响了致瘿生物的丰度与多样性。尽管海榄雌属于超级宿主，但这类寄生并未对植株的生长发育与存活造成负面影响。海榄雌分布广泛、可形成单优红树林群落，且具有较高的适口性，这使其成为新热带区红树林中致瘿生物功能群存活的必需资源。