Ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera and their natural enemies on Acacia auriculiformis (Fabales: Fabaceae) plants with or without dehydrated sewage sludge application in a degraded area

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 8; p. e0237261
• Main Authors: Dourado, Luan Rocha, Demolin-Leite, Germano Leao, Soares, Marcus Alvarenga, Teixeira, Gustavo Leal, Silva, Farley William Souza, Sampaio, Regynaldo Arruda, Zanuncio, Jose Cola, Legaspi, Jesusa Crisostomo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 17.08.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acacia auriculiformis; Acacias (Plants); Agriculture; Ants; Bioindicators; Biological indicators; Biology and Life Sciences; Degradation; Dehydration; Ecological effects; Ecological research; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Engineering and Technology; Environmental aspects; Fabaceae; Fabales; Fertilization; Hemiptera; Hemipterans; Indicator species; Insect-plant relationships; Insects; Litter; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Natural enemies; Nitrogen; Nutrient concentrations; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Predators; Recovery; Sewage sludge; Sludge; Soil degradation; Soil fertility; Soil remediation; Soils; Webs; Brazil; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237261

Soil fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge (DSS) accelerates the recovery process of degraded areas by improving nutrient concentration, and favors the development of trophic webs with pioneer plants such as Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae), phytophagous Hemiptera, predators, and protocooperanting ants. This study aimed to evaluate the development and production of A. auriculiformis litter with or without dehydrated sewage sludge application and the ecological indices of sucking insects (Hemiptera), their predators and protocooperating ants, as bioindicators, in a degraded area for 24 months. Complete randomization was applied for two treatments (with or without application of dehydrated sewage sludge) in 24 replications (one repetition = one plant). We evaluated the number of leaves/branch and branches/plant, percentage of soil cover (litter), ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera, their predators, and protocooperating ants. The plants of A. auriculiformis, that were applied with dehydrated sewage sludge, had superior development when compared to plants where DSS were not applied. The highest abundance and richness of phytophagous Hemiptera species and Sternorrhyncha predators occurred on A. auriculiformis plants that were applied with dehydrated sewage sludge. The increase in richness of species of protocooperanting ants that established mutualistic relationships positively influenced the phytophagous Hemiptera. The use of A. auriculiformis, with application of dehydrated sewage sludge, can increase recovery of degraded areas due to its higher soil cover (e.g., litter) and results in higher ecological indices of phytophagous Hemiptera and their predators.