Effect of volcanic ash over Orthoptera survival in Patagonia
The aim of this work was to evaluate the ash toxicity from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex on the survival of two Orthopteran species: the grasshoper Dichroplus vittigerum and the green locust Brugilis sp. Two grain size were used to evaluate the effect of volcanic eruption on these ins...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2017
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1275 http://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/58/58 |
| Sumario: | The aim of this work was to evaluate the ash toxicity from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic
complex on the survival of two Orthopteran species: the grasshoper Dichroplus vittigerum and the green locust
Brugilis sp. Two grain size were used to evaluate the effect of volcanic eruption on these insects. Chemical
analyses from this eruption proved that the ashes were very abrasive and predominantly composed of silica
shards (SiO2
) and aluminia (Al2
O3
), two substances with insecticidal properties. In northern Patagonia, both
orthopteran species are polyphagous chewers on grasses and dicots. The laboratory data showed that sustained
exposure to volcanic ash induced mortality in adult grasshoppers. Survival of D. vittigerum significantly
decreased once exposed to the two ash granulometries. In turn, Brugilis sp. survival was significantly reduced
when exposed to fine grain ashes. These results suggest that the onset of the volcanic eruption with the
consequent suspension of the pyroclastic material in the air might negatively impacted these orthopteran due
to the mortality of adults. The ash from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex could be compared to
the application of non-persistent and broad spectrum insecticide, causing a temporary reduction in orthopteran
populations. |
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