ARS | Publication request: Guild Structure and Diversity of Insects from Saltcedar Woodlands in Xinjiang, West China

Submitted to: Chinese Journal of Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 20, 2007
Publication Date: April 16, 2007
Citation: Meng, L., Li, B. 2006. Guild structure and diversity of insects from saltcedar woodlands in Xinjiang, West China. Chinese Journal of Ecology. 25(2):189-193.

Interpretive Summary: The small tree or shrub, saltcedar (in plant genus Tamarix) was introduced from Asia and the Mediterranean area into the western U.S. in the 1820s, where it has invaded riverbottoms and lakeshores. It causes great damage to native and rangeland ecosystems in the U.S. and northern Mexico by displacing native plant communities, degrading wildlife and fish habitat, using great quantities of scarce groundwater, and increasing soil salinity and wildfires. As part of the program on biological control of saltcedar in the U.S., the authors, at Fukang (56 miles) and Hutubi (30 miles W) of Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, P.R. China, compared the numbers and species of insects in small (Hutubi) and large (Fukang) stands of saltcedar woodlands using 3 different ecological indices. The Pielou evenness and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices were greater in Fukang in early- and mid-season but less in late season than at Hutubi, but the Berger-Parker dominance index was greater at Hutubi. This information will help to evaluate which insect species are best to introduce into different types of ecosystems in the U.S.

Technical Abstract: Insects and mites on saltcedar shrubs were surveyed over the season in two different sized woodlands, Fukang (larger) and Hutubi (smaller), in the Northern Xinjiang, west China. There were approximately 100 species in 50 families and seven guilds were established according to the trophical level and feeding mode as predators, parasitoids, strip-feeders, sap-suckers, gall-makers, flower and seed feeders, and turists. The richness of species in Fukang was more than that in Hutubi (81 to 71) with 53 species shared by both sites but species proportion in each guild was similar at both sites. Predators, strip-feeders and sap-suckers contained more species with each accounting for 1/5 of total species. Sap-suckers and gall-makers were most abundant in abundances followed by strip-feeders. Most abundant species were Adiscodiapis tamariciocola (Diaspididae), Aceria tamaricis (Eriophyidae, Acarina), Psectrocema barbatum (Cecidomyidae), Diorhabda elongata deserticola (Chrysomelidae), Coniatus steveni (Curculionidae) and Ornitholvolva heluanensis (Gelechiidae). The Pielou’s evenness and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices of insect communities were greater in Fukang woodland than those in Hutubi during early and middle seasons, but less than those in Hutubi during the later season. The Berger-Parker dominance index of insect community in Fukang was smaller than that in Hutubi saltcedar woodland.