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（gall-inducing organisms）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仍存在争议。分布于新热带区（Neotropical region）的主要红树树种美洲白骨壤（Avicennia germinans (L.)）被认为是致瘿昆虫（gall-inducing insects）的超级宿主。本研究基于对50株美洲白骨壤的1000条顶枝的分析，采用广义线性混合模型（Generalized Linear Mixed Model, GLMM），对巴西亚马逊海岸地区5-9年生人工补种红树林的结构特征以及虫瘿形态型（gall morphotypes, GM）的多样性与丰度开展了调查。本次调查共记录虫瘿7602个，单叶平均虫瘿数为1.3±0.4个。在鉴定得到的22种虫瘿形态型中，有16种在全部调查样地均有分布。GM4与GM7两种虫瘿形态型的丰度最高，合计约占总虫瘿数的40%。宿主植物的结构复杂度（主要以叶片数量为衡量指标）直接影响致瘿生物的丰度与多样性。尽管美洲白骨壤属于超级宿主，但这类寄生作用并未对植株的生长发育与存活率造成负面影响。美洲白骨壤广泛的分布范围、单优种群落林（monospecific forests）的形成特性以及较高的适口性，使其成为新热带区红树林生态系统中致瘿生物类群（gall-inducing guild）存活的必需资源。