Daniela Bărbuceanu, Liliana Vasiliu - Oromulu
Full Text PDF |
air pollution, antennal anomalies, biodiversity, park, Thysanoptera.
Studies conducted in May-September 2015 in a park in Pitesti (Romania) highlighted the taxonomic and ecological structure of the thrips fauna on Trifolium repens. Specific diversity was provided by 13 species belonging to the two trophic levels: primary and secondary consumers. Eight species are mentioned for the first time on Trifolium in Romania, completing the list of taxa inhabiting the inflorescences of this plant. Frankliniella intonsa, xerophylous, polyphagous species, overwhelmingly dominates the populations of other species of thrips with 84.4%. During the dry and warm summer months, the mesophilous Haplothrips leucanthemi discreetly manifest its attachment towards this host plant, with relative abundances of up to 12.4%. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and equitability register low values, due to unequal contribution of the thrips to the establishment of this coenosis. Air pollution by heavy metals due to heavy car traffic in this area leads to antennal anomalies of F. intonsa individuals, phenomenon encountered in Bucharest parks, too. Antennal anomalies occurring both in females and males confirm the role of air quality bioindicator played by the F. intonsa species. The results recommend the T. repens for monitoring thrips populations from areas subject to urban air pollution generated by heavy traffic.
