Paul P. Bosu

Survival, growth and gall formation by Phytolyma lata on Milicia excelsa established in mixed-species tropical plantations in Ghana

1 Milicia excelsa (Moraceae) is an important timber tree in much of Africa and when grown in monocultural plantations has been subject to nearly complete destruction by gall‐forming psyllids in the genus Phytolyma.

Susceptibility of 32 Elm Species and Hybrids (Ulmus spp.) to the Elm Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Under Field Conditions in Arizona

Abstract We evaluated elm leaf beetle, Pyrhalta luteola (Müller) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), defoliation of 32 elm species or hybrids (taxa) established under field conditions in Holbrook, AZ. Percentage of defoliation, number of eggs, and number of larvae were estimated on randomly selected 15-cm shoot lengths annually in July, from 1996 to 2001. The following nine taxa consistently sustained 15–46% mean overall defoliation: 1) Siberian elm, U. pumila L.; 2) ‘Dropmore’ elm, U. pumila; 3) ‘Camperdownii’ elm, U. glabra Huds.; 4) ‘Regal’ elm, U. glabra × U. carpinifolia Gledisch × U. pumila); 5) ‘Sapporo Autumn Gold’ elm (U. pumila × U. japonica Sang.); 6) ‘New Horizon’ elm (U. pumila × U. japonica); 7) ‘Charisma’ elm [(U. japonica × U. wilsoniana Schneid.) × (U. japonica × U. pumila)]; 8) ‘W2115-1′ elm (U. parvifolia Jacq. × U. procera Salisb.); and 9) ‘Homestead’ elm [(U. hollandica Mill. × U. carpinifolia) × (U. pumila-racemosa Dieck × U. carpinifolia)]. Percentage of defoliation was significantly low on four Chinese elm (U. parvifolia) cultivars (‘Allee’, ‘Athena’, ‘Glory’/lace bark, and ‘Kings Choice’). Percentage of defoliation was also low on seven Asian elms (including U. chemnoui Cheng, U. bergmaniana Sneid., U. szechuanica Fang, and species of the U. davidiana Planch. complex [U. davidiana, U. japonica, U. wilsoniana, and U. propinqua Koidz.]) and the American elm (U. americana L.) ‘Valley Forge’. Percentage of defoliation and the number of eggs or larvae per plant were highly correlated. The results of this study are generally consistent with results of past laboratory screening trials.

Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana

ABSTRACT Plantation forests are becoming an increasingly important component of the world’s forested ecosystem. However, relatively little is known about how forest plantation management, overstory tree species composition and diversity impact biodiversity of nontree components of the forest. We assessed changes in ant functional group composition as related to changes in overstory tree diversity (monocultures vs. polycultures), species composition (native African species vs. exotic teak), and time (one and two years after planting). A pitfall trapping scheme was implemented during the summer months of 2006 and 2007. A total of 7473 specimens were collected representing six subfamilies, 22 genera, and 65 species. We found no significant differences in traditional diversity measures or functional group composition between treatments one year after planting. Two years after planting, we found that species richness of ground foraging ants had significantly increased (F = 4.60, d.f. = 4, 15, p = 0.01). Several observed trends may have indicated that these ant communities were in transition and will likely become more distinct over time as the different plantation types recover from disturbance and diverge from each other in overstory structure. EDITED BY Sheila Ward

Tetrapleura tetraptera in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda: households uses and local market

ABSTRACT Tetrapleura tetraptera is an indigenous fruit tree in Tropical Africa. Scientific findings indicate its medicinal and nutritional properties, vital for rural livelihood sustainability. Despite this reported scientific potential, its uses in local communities have not received much attention. This study assessed T. tetraptera local uses in selected communities in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a total of 420 user households and 30 traders. Reported uses of T. tetraptera were medicine, food, timber, firewood, shade and cultural applications. When ranked by importance, medicinal uses emerged highest in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Except for food uses that differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between Uganda and Ghana, other T. tetraptera uses were not significantly different across the three countries. Household sales exclusively concerned the fruits, and were low, comprising only 16%, 15% and 6% of respondent households in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda respectively. Our results reveal the importance of T. tetraptera for medicinal and food uses in local communities and its potential for improving local livelihoods through its domestication