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Variation in Communities of Dipterans in Nepenthes Pitchers in Singapore: Predators Increase Prey Community Diversity

1997; Oxford University Press; Volume: 90; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/aesa/90.2.177

1938-2901

Motoyoshi Mogi, Kok‐Lung Chan,

Plant Parasitism and Resistance

Variation in 14 aquatic communities of dipterans in pitchers of 3 Nepenthes species was studied in Singapore. Communities in 3 clumps of Nepenthes ampullari Jack included 3 large aquatic predators, Toxorhynchites acaudatus (Leicester), Nepenthosyrphus sp., and Nepenthomyia sp. In communities in 2 clumps of Nepenthes rafflesiana Jack, another large aquatic predator, Pierretia sp., occurred at low rates; but the remaining 9 communities (3 N. ampullaria, 2 N. rafflesiana, and 4 N. gracilis Korth. clumps) lacked large aquatic predators. In 3 N. ampullaria communities with large aquatic predators, phorid density was low and 4-5 filter-feeder mosquito species coexisted. There, filter feeder communities were dominated by Tripteroides nepenthis (Edwards) and Uranotaenia moultoni Edwards; Tripteroides tenax (Meijere) and Culex eminentia (Leicester) together occupied 8S% of 2-3 species (5 communities). Unique prey community structure in N. ampullaria clumps with large aquatic predators was attributed at least partly to selective removal of superior competitors by the predators and resultant colonization of inferior competitors more resistant to predation.