Insects as recyclers

Recycling nutrients is...

essential

what are the benefits of nutrient cycling?

• Breakdown of organic matter - recycles nutrients so they are available to plants

• Part of the soil formation process

• Determines productivity and health of plants

• Carbon: Nitrogen ratio affects the rate of decomposition of organic material

insects are a part of nutrient cycling as they eat…

soil, dead plants, microbes, fungi, dead wood, dung, carrion/flesh

insects indirectly affect nutrient cycling by…

Break material into smaller sizes, Redistribute organic matter, Stimulate microbial activity (bacteria & fungi)

what are the layers of soil from top down?

Vegetation→ Litter→ Partially decayed material→ Humus enriched soi

what forms the base of the detrital food web?

Fungi & bacteria

what are important orders in terrestrial detrital food web?

Bacteria & Fungi, Mites (Arachnidae, Acari), Collembola (Collembola), Beetle larvae (Coleoptera), Termites (Blattodea/ Isoptera), Ants (Hymenoptera)

adaptations for insects in terrestrial detrital food webs:

legs modified to. dig through soil, larval forms because of limited movement, reduced eyes/wings

Termites have enzymes and gut biota to…

digest cellulose

ants and termites are…

soil engineers

how are ants & termites soil engineers?

Eat decaying material, move nutrients around, make mounds

ants influence…

decomposition & soil processes, phosphorous availability and pH in soil

termites are important in … regions

tropics and subtropics

what are present in termite colonies?

Queen, King, workers, soldiers, nymphs

where do termites dwell??

soil-dwelling in structured nests/mounds or wood-dwelling in galleries

termites are important for…

decomposing in arid and semi-arid areas, Soil structure and hydrology, Nutrient cycling

why do termite mound areas support plant growth?

they are nutrient rich

what insect orders are found in dead trees/decaying wood?

Beetles (Coleoptera), Termites (Blattodea), Wood wasps (Hymenoptera)

what are the adaptations of insects in dead trees/decaying wood?

cellulase enzymes, eat fungi that digest wood, long/slow lifecycle, colonies, live in trees

how does the wood wasp live?

eggs are laid in wood and inoculated with fungal spores, spores germinate and breakdown lignin and cellulose, larva feed off the fungi

What are the ecosystem the services of termites?

destroy wood structures, high cost to get rid of them

what are the important orders of insects in dung?

coprophagous: flies and beetles

why is dung a good resource?

moist, protected, resource-rich, and full of microorganisms, but patchy

what do dung beetles feed on?

micro-organisms, nutrients in fluid, undigested plant material in dung

What do dung beetles do with dung because of high competition?

bury the dung to feed their brood

dung beetles are attracted by…

volatiles

What are adaptations of dung beetles?

armor and horns to compete for food and mates, by parental care, low fecundity because it's costly to raise offspring

What are the ecosystem function and services of dung beetles?

increased rate of dung degradation, reduce livestock parasitism, suppress flies

What is threatening dung beetles?

treating livestock with pesticides

what orders are insects in carrion

Flies, Beetles, Wasps (& ants)

the food source of carrion is…

Ephemeral & patchy

how do blowflies decompose

Lays eggs in carcass, Maggots devour the flesh

what are other uses of blowflies?

indicators for forensics, disease, vectors, used in medical treatments

Bearing beetles exhibit what type of care?

Parental care

How is the abundance and diversity of insect recycler measured?

tullgren funnels and pitfall traps

what are tullgren funnels?

separate insects from the soil

What are a pitfall traps for ?

dung and carrion beetles

what are carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes used to find and examine?

trophic web interactions and trace conversion of nutrients