Frank J H, Lounibos L P
Entomology & Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0630, USA.
Terr Arthropod Rev. 2009;1(2):125-153. doi: 10.1163/187498308X414742.
Bromeliads are a Neotropical plant family (Bromeliaceae) with about 2,900 described species. They vary considerably in architecture. Many impound water in their inner leaf axils to form phytotelmata (plant pools), providing habitat for terrestrial arthropods with aquatic larvae, while their outer axils provide terraria for an assemblage of fully terrestrial arthropods. Many bromeliads are epiphytic.Dominant terrestrial arthropods with aquatic larvae inhabiting bromeliad phytotelmata are typically larvae of Diptera, of which at least 16 families have been reported, but in some circumstances are Coleoptera, of which only three families have been reported. Other groups include crabs and the insect orders Odonata, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, plus Hemiptera with adults active on the water surface. The hundreds of arthropod species are detritivores or predators and do not harm their host plants. Many of them are specialists to this habitat.Terrestrial arthropods with terrestrial larvae inhabiting bromeliad terraria include many more arachnid and insect orders, but relatively few specialists to this habitat. They, too, are detritivores or predators.Arthropod herbivores, especially Curculionidae (Coleoptera) and Lepidoptera, consume leaves, stems, flowers, pollen, and roots of bromeliads. Some herbivores consume nectar, and some of these and other arthropods provide pollination and even seed-dispersal.Ants have complex relationships with bromeliads, a few being herbivores, some guarding the plants from herbivory, and some merely nesting in bromeliad terraria. A few serve as food for carnivorous bromeliads, which also consume other terrestrial insects.Bromeliads are visited by far more species of arthropods than breed in them. This is especially notable during dry seasons, when bromeliads provide moist refugia.
凤梨科植物是新热带地区的一个植物科（凤梨科），已描述的物种约有2900种。它们的结构差异很大。许多凤梨科植物在其内部叶腋中蓄积水分以形成植物小水池（植物池），为具有水生幼虫的陆生节肢动物提供栖息地，而其外部叶腋则为一群完全陆生的节肢动物提供栖息地。许多凤梨科植物是附生植物。栖息在凤梨科植物植物小水池中的主要陆生节肢动物且具有水生幼虫的通常是双翅目幼虫，其中至少有16个科已被报道，但在某些情况下是鞘翅目，其中只有3个科已被报道。其他类群包括螃蟹以及昆虫纲的蜻蜓目、襀翅目和毛翅目，还有半翅目，其成虫活跃于水面。数百种节肢动物物种是腐食性或捕食性的，不会伤害它们的寄主植物。它们中的许多是这个栖息地的 specialists。栖息在凤梨科植物栖息地中的具有陆生幼虫的陆生节肢动物包括更多的蛛形纲和昆虫目，但相对较少是这个栖息地的 specialists。它们也是腐食性或捕食性的。节肢动物食草动物，尤其是象甲科（鞘翅目）和鳞翅目，会食用凤梨科植物的叶子、茎、花、花粉和根。一些食草动物食用花蜜，其中一些以及其他节肢动物提供传粉甚至种子传播。蚂蚁与凤梨科植物有着复杂的关系，少数是食草动物，一些保护植物免受食草动物侵害，一些仅仅在凤梨科植物栖息地筑巢。少数作为食肉凤梨科植物的食物，食肉凤梨科植物也会捕食其他陆生昆虫。访问凤梨科植物的节肢动物物种远比在其中繁殖的物种多。在旱季，当凤梨科植物提供潮湿的避难所时，这一点尤为明显。
