Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oviposition site selection by the bromeliad-dweller harvestman Bourguyia hamata (Arachnida: Opiliones)

  • Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ethology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bourguyia hamata females oviposit almost exclusively inside the rosette formed by the curled leaves of the epiphytic bromeliad Aechmea nudicaulis. We investigated whether the architecture of the individual bromeliads influences oviposition site selection by this harvestman species. We collected data on the presence of clutches inside bromeliads, rosette length, rosette slope in relation to tree trunks, and the amount of debris inside the rosette. Additionally, we measured the water volume inside the rosettes as well as the variation in the humidity inside and outside bromeliads with long and short rosettes. Longer rosettes were preferred as oviposition site possibly because they accumulate more water and maintain lower internal humidity variation than the external environment. Although the slope of the rosettes did not influence the occurrence of oviposition, the probability of debris accumulation inside the rosettes increased with their slope, and the frequency of clutches was greater in bromeliads with small amounts of debris. A field experiment showed that bromeliads with water inside the rosette were more frequently used as oviposition sites than bromeliads without water. In conclusion, females oviposit predominantly in bromeliads that accumulate more water and have small amounts of debris inside the rosettes, probably because these characteristics promote a more adequate microhabitat for egg development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ayres M, Ayres Jr M, Ayres DL, Santos AS (2003) BioEstat―Aplicações estatísticas nas áreas das ciências biológicas e médicas. Sociedade Civil Mamirauá, MCT-CNPq, Conservation International, Pará

  • Barros F, Melo MMRF, Chiiea SAC, Kirizawa M, Wanderley MGL, Jung-Mendaçolli SL (1991) Flora fanerogâmica da Ilha do Cardoso. Caracterização geral da vegetação e listagem das espécies ocorrentes. Indústrias de Papel Simão S.A., São Paulo

  • Bernardo J (1996) Maternal effects in animal ecology. Am Zool 36:83–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourne GR, Collins AC, Holder AM, McCarthy CL (2001) Vocal communication and reproductive behavior of the frog Colostethus beebei in Guyana. J Herpetol 35:272–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham KP, Anderson DR (1998) Model selection and multimodel inference: a practical information-theoretic approach. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell JP (1993) Brazil nut fruit capsules as phytotelmata: interactions among anuran and insect larvae. Can J Zool 71:1193–1201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH (1991) The evolution of parental care. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Cogni R, Oliveira PS (2004) Patterns in foraging and nesting ecology in the arboreal neotropical ponerine ant, Gnamptogenys moelleri. Insect Soc 51:123–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corbet PS (1983) Odonata in phytotelmata. In: Frank JH, Lounibos LP (eds) Phytotelmata: terrestrial plants as hosts for aquatic insect communities. Plexus Publishng, New Jersey, pp 223–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis DJ, Machado G (2007) Ecology. In: Pinto-da-Rocha R, Machado G, Giribet G (eds) Harvestmen: the biology of opiliones. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp 280–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Diesel R (1989) Parental care in an unusual environment: Metopaulias depressus (Decapoda: Grapsidae), a crab that lives in epiphytic bromeliads. Anim Behav 38:561–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diesel R (1997) Maternal control of calcium concentration in the larval nursery of the bromeliad crab, Metopaulias depressus (Grapsidae). Proc R Soc Lond B 264:1403–1406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diesel R, Schuh M (1993) Maternal care in the bromeliad crab Metopaulias depressus (Decapoda): maintaining oxygen, pH and calcium levels optimal for the larvae. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 32:11–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson AJ (2002) An introduction to generalized linear models. Chapman & Hall, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar AL (1971) Studies on the biology and ecology of Michigan Phalangida (Opiliones). Misc Pub Mus Zool, Univ Mich 144:1–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueira JEC, Vasconcellos-Neto J (1993) Reproductive success of Lactrodectus geometricus (Theridiidae) on Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae): rosette size, microclimate, and prey capture. Ecotropicos 5:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish D (1983) Phytotelmata: flora and fauna. In: Frank JH, Lounibos LP (eds) Phytotelmata: terrestrial plants as hosts for aquatic insect communities. Plexus Publishng Inc., New Jersey, pp 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Fragoso C, Rojas-Fernández P (1996) Earthworms inhabiting bromeliads in Mexican tropical rainforests: ecological and historical determinants. J Trop Ecol 12:729–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritz RS, Morse DH (1985) Reproductive success, growth rate and foraging decisions of the crab spider Misumena vatia. Oecologia 65:194–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giaretta AA (1996) Reproductive specializations of the bromeliad hylid frog Phyllodyres luteolus. J Herpetol 30:96–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnaspini P (1995) Reproduction and postembryonic development of Goniosoma spelaeum, a cavernicolous harvestman from southeastern Brazil (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae). Invertebr Reprod Develop 28:137–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsbrough CL, Hochuli DF, Shine R (2003) Invertebrate biodiversity under hot rocks: habitat use by the fauna of sandstone outcrops in the Sydney region. Biol Conserv 109:85–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeney HF (2001) The insects of plant-held waters: a review and bibliography. J Trop Ecol 17:241–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huey RB (1991) Physiological consequences of habitat selection. Am Nat 137(supplement):91–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JB, Omland KS (2004) Model selection in ecology and evolution. Trends Ecol Evol 19:101–108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Judd DD (1998) Review of a bromeliad-ovipositing lineage in Wyeomyia and the resurrection of Hystatomyia (Diptera: Culicidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 91:572–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs CJ (1998) Ecological methodology. Addison Wesley Longman, California

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado G, Oliveira PS (1998) Reproductive biology of the neotropical harvestman Goniosoma longipes (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae): mating and oviposition behaviour, brood mortality, and parental care. J Zool 246:359–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado G, Oliveira PS (2002) Maternal care in the neotropical harvestman Bourguyia hamata (Arachnida: Opiliones): oviposition site selection and egg protection. Behaviour 139:1509–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado G, Macías-Ordóñez R (2007) Reproduction. In: Pinto-da-Rocha R, Machado G, Giribet G (eds) Harvestmen: the biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp 414–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Manly BFJ, McDonald LL, Thomas DL (1993) Resource selection by animals: statistical design and analysis for field studies. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin TE (2001) Abiotic versus biotic influences on habitat selection of coexisting species: climate change impacts? Ecology 82:175–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCullagh P, Nelder JA (1989) Generalized linear models. Chapman & Hall, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH (1985) Nests and nest-site selection of the crab spider Misumena vatia (Aranae, Thomisidae) on milkweed. J Arachnol 13:383–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH (1990) Leaf choices of nest-building crab spiders (Misumena vatia). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 27:265–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH (1992) Predation on dispersing Misumena vatia spiderlings and its relationship to maternal foraging decisions. Ecology 73:1814–1819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH, Stephens EG (1996) The consequences of adult foraging success on the components of lifetime fitness in a semelparous, sit and wait predator. Evol Ecol 10:361–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naeem S (1990) Resource heterogeneity and community structure: a case study in Heliconia imbricata phytotelmata. Oecologia 84:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neill WT (1951) A bromeliad herpetofauna in Florida. Ecology 32:140–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira-Filho AT, Fontes MAL (2000) Patterns of floristic differentiation among atlantic forests in southeastern brazil and the influence of climate. Biotropica 32:793–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer RM, Noffs M, Silva DM (1989) Correlação de características do meio biofísico do Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, SP. Revta Inst Florestal 1:39–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Resetarits WJ, Willbur HM (1989) Choice of oviposition site by Hyla chrysoscelis: role of predators and competitors. Ecology 70:220–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson BA (1999) The bromeliad microcosm and the assessment of faunal diversity in a Neotropical forest. Biotropica 31:321–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero GQ (2005) Association of two Coryphasia species (Araneae, Salticidae) with tank-bromeliads in southeast Brazil: habitats and patterns of host plant use. In: Associações entre aranhas Salticidae e Bromeliaceae: história natural, distribuição espacial e mutualismos, PhD Thesis, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, pp 49–68

  • Romero GQ, Vasconcellos-Neto J (2005a) Spatial distribution and microhabitat preference of Psecas chapoda (Peckham & Peckham) (Araneae, Salticidae). J Arachnol 33:124–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero GQ, Vasconcellos-Neto J (2005b) The effects of plant structure on the spatial and microspatial distribution of a bromeliad-living jumping spider (Salticidae). J Anim Ecol 74:12–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoonhoven LM, Jermy T, van Loon JJA (1998) Insect-plant biology. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sota T, Mogi M (1996) Species richness and altitudinal variation in the aquatic metazoan community in bamboo phytotelmata from north Sulawesi. Res Pop Ecol 38:275–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Summers K (1992) Mating strategies in two species of dart-poison frogs: a comparative study. Anim Behav 43:907–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Varga L (1928) Ein interessanter Biotop der Bioconöse von Wasserorganismen. Biol Zentralblatt 48:143–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanderley MGL, Mollo L (1992) Bromeliaceae. In: Flora fanerogâmica da Ilha do Cardoso (São Paulo, Brasil). Champion Papel e Celulose, São Paulo, pp 89–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Willemart RH, Gnaspini P (2004) Breeding biology of the cavernicolous harvestman Goniosoma albiscriptum (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores): sites of oviposition, egg batches characteristics and subsocial behaviour. Invertebr Reprod Dev 45:15–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO (1971) The insect societies. Belknap Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolda K (1988) Insect seasonality: why? Ann Rev Ecol Syst 19:1–18

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the staff of the Cardoso Island State Park for logistical support, to Taís M. Nazareth, Bruno A. Buzatto, Gustavo Requena, and Rubens Alves for helping in the fieldwork, to Paulo Roberto Guimarães Jr., Paulo Enrique Peixoto, and Adriano S. Melo for helping with the statistical analyses, and to Ariovaldo A. Giaretta, Gustavo Q. Romero, Rogelio Macías-Ordóñez, Rodrigo Cogni, and an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments that greatly improved the manuscript. The study was supported by fellowships from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 02/00381-0 and 03/10639-7) and CAPES.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CP 593, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil

    Francini Osses

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil

    Eduardo G. Martins

  3. Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Cidade Universitária, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, n° 321, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Glauco Machado

Authors
  1. Francini Osses
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eduardo G. Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Glauco Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Glauco Machado.

About this article

Cite this article

Osses, F., Martins, E.G. & Machado, G. Oviposition site selection by the bromeliad-dweller harvestman Bourguyia hamata (Arachnida: Opiliones). J Ethol 26, 233–241 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-007-0054-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-007-0054-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation