Variation of growth forms of Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus, 1767) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia): a modular approach

Clonal animals grow through addition of functional units (zooids), whose assemblage constitutes a colony. The modular approach consists in describing colony form from the arrangement and size of modules. The modular approach was used here to access variations in growth forms of the coral Montastraea cavernosa using the arrangement and the size of polyps in the inner face of the colonial of 46 samples collected in Parcel das Paredes (BA) and João Pessoa (PB). Results showed that area of the polyps is partially explained by factors related to the spacing among them. These factors vary with the form of the colony and with the range of polyp sizes being analyzed. A hypothetical conceptual model for the relationship among colonial growth forms, polyp sizes and organization is proposed. Possible evolutionary reasons for such a model are discussed as well as possible implications to morphometric studies of this species.CAPESAnimais clonais crescem por acréscimo de unidades funcionais (zoóides) as quais formam a colônia. A abordagem modular consiste em descrever a forma das colônias do ponto de vista do arranjo e tamanho dos módulos. A abordagem modular foi usada aqui para quantificar variações na forma de crescimento do coral Montastraea cavernosa a partir da mensuração do arranjo e áreas dos pólipos na face interna do tecido colonial. Foram coletadas 46 amostras no Parcel das Paredes (BA) e João Pessoa (PB). Os resultados mostraram que área dos pólipos é parcialmente explicada por fatores ligados ao espaçamento entre eles. Estes fatores variam com a forma da colônia e com a faixa de tamanho de pólipos considerada. Foi proposto um modelo conceitual hipotético para a relação entre a forma de crescimento colonial, o tamanho e a organização dos pólipos. São discutidas possíveis razões evolutivas para o modelo proposto e implicações deste para estudos morfométricos da espécie

Ants and their effects on an insect herbivore community associated with the inflorescences of Byrsonima crassifolia (Linnaeus) H.B.K. (Malpighiaceae)

The effects of ants on the insect community on inflorescences of Byrsonima crassifolia (Malpighiaceae) were tested in an ant exclusion experiment in a cerrado vegetation in southeastern Brazil. Forty-four species of insects (23 families) and nine species of ants (6 genera and 3 subfamilies) were found on the inflorescences of B. crassifolia. The exclusion of ants, primarily Camponotus sericeiventris and Camponotus spp., reduced the treehopper population to 20% of the original abundance. Ant exclusion and time influenced the abundance of chewing (Exclusion, P<0.001; Time, P<0.002), and sucking insects (Exclusion, P<0.02; Time, P<0.01). Twice as many chewing and sucking insects were found on ant-excluded inflorescences as compared to control inflorescences (P<0.001). One and half more sucking insects were found on ant-excluded than on control inflorescences. Only time significantly influenced the richness of chewing and sucking insects associated with B. crassifolia inflorescences. Inflorescences on control branches were significantly less attacked by herbivores than inflorescences on ant-excluded branches (P<0.001). Therefore, these results suggest that the presence of ants alters the structure of insect herbivore community associated with B. crassifolia