Plant-herbivore assemblages composed of endophagous and exophagous insects have different patterns of diversity and specialization in Brazilian savannas

Plant-insect interactions can differ between endophagous and exophagous insect guilds, and this can influence the response patterns of these guilds to anthropogenic changes in natural habitats. We compared the species richness, abundance, and species-level specialization of plant-herbivore assemblages composed of distinct insect guilds in Neotropical savannas. Assemblages of chewing insects were the richest in species, and the gallers were the most abundant. Galling species were more specialized than other guilds, and sucking insects were more specialized than chewers. Our results show that insect guilds are similarly influenced by disturbance, which decreased species richness and increased specialization of insect species.

Automated summary

The study found that different insect guilds have similar response patterns to anthropogenic disturbances, leading to decreased species richness and increased specialization of insect species.