First record of herbivory of the invasive macrophyte Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae)

Authors

  • Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar, Departament of Hydrobiology
  • Marcel Loyo Moitas Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar, Departament of Hydrobiology
  • Gabriela Monteiro Lobato Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar, Departament of Hydrobiology
  • Marcela Bianchessi da Cunha-Santino Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar, Departament of Hydrobiology
  • Dalva Maria da Silva Matos Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar, Departament of Hydrobiology

Keywords:

butterfly ginger, aquatic weed, capybaras

Abstract

Invasive species can cause structural and functional changes in their non-native habitats, such as changes in the trophic chain. We describe ramet herbivory of butterfly ginger, an aggressive aquatic weed in Brazil, by capybaras in a floodplain area of a Cerrado reserve. This is the first record of herbivory of H. coronarium in invaded areas. Capybaras could be using the butterfly ginger as habitat and as a food resource, which could cause changes in apparent competition between these invasive and native macrophytes.
Issue Cover Vol.: 13 Num: 4

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Published

2013-12-01

How to Cite

Castro, W. A. C. de, Moitas, M. L., Lobato, G. M., Cunha-Santino, M. B. da, & Matos, D. M. da S. (2013). First record of herbivory of the invasive macrophyte Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae). Biota Neotropica, 13(4). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1242

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2013): v13n4

Section

Short Communications

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