Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Insect interactions with true viviparous plant species such as Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, B. cylindrica, Ceriops decandra, C. tagal, Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata; crypto-viviparous species such as Avicennia alba, A. officinalis, A. marina, Aegialitis rotundifolia and Aegiceras corniculatum; and non-viviparous species Sonneratia alba, S. apetala, Lumnitzera racemosa, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea and Excoecaria agallocha; mangrove associates such as Acanthus ilicifolius, Caesalpinia crista, Clerodendrum inerme, Derris trifoliata, Ipomoea pes-caprae, I. tuba, Malachra capitata, Suaeda maritima, S. monoica and S. nudiflora were studied for pollination ecology. Rhizophora species are offer only pollen as floral reward while all others both nectar and pollen as floral rewards. Acanthus, Aegialitis, Aegiceras, Avicennia, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Derris, Excoecaria, Lumnitzera, Caesalpinia, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Malachra, Scyphiphora and Suaeda are associated with bees, wasps, thrips, flies and butterflies. These species utilize these insects for pollination while the insects utilize them as forage source. Bees and thrips use both pollen and nectar while wasps, flies and butterflies use only nectar. Euplecta decussata utilizes Ipomoea pes-caprae pollen promoting out-crossing. Hawk moths use I. tuba as nectar source. The bees, Xylocopa and Anthophora rob nectar from Clerodendrum flowers and this foraging indirectly promotes out-crossing. Therefore, plant-insect interactions are important for the structural and functional integrity of mangrove forests.

Biography

Aluri Jacob Solomon Raju is working in Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, India. He was the Visiting Professor of University of Colima, Mexico, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of University of Akron, USA. He received Distinguished Achievement Award of University of Akron, USA, Best Research Award and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Best Academician Award of Andhra University, Loyola Environmental and AP Scientist Awards APCOST. He published 300 papers and attended 75 national and 50 international conferences held in India, USA, Canada, UK, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Ethiopia and Tanzania. He is the reviewer for Elsevier, Springer, Indian, US and African publishers.

Email: ajsraju@yahoo.com