*3.2.2.2 Relationship between curculionids and meteorological variables*

Beetles like all living things are subject to the nature forces, so there is a relevant influence in a way that can inhibit or favor a particular group of insects. Studying the relationship between meteorological factors and the population fluctuation of beetles is important for understanding the variation that occurs in their population.

For investigation and understanding of this association in the Mata de Cocal and in the agricultural field, the monthly records of the subfamilies fluctuation and the monthly meteorological data were correlated.

Significantly, in Mata de Cocal, the subfamily Molytinae was negatively associated with heat stroke (−0.61; p < 0.05), while the same subfamily, in an agricultural area, was negatively associated with insolation (−0.70; p < 0.05) and temperature (−0.61; p < 0.05), and positively with humidity (0.68; p < 0.05) and precipitation (0.56; p < 0.10). In both areas, the Scolytinae subfamily had no significant association with a p-value equal to>0.10. **Figures 2**–**5** show that only the subfamily Molytinae, in the agriculture area, was significantly associated with all meteorological variables (**Table 4**).

Canonical correlation was performed between the monthly records of the subfamilies and the data set related to insolation, humidity, precipitation and temperature.

**Figure 3.** *Dispersion diagram: the precipitation data versus the monthly population fluctuation of Molytinae.*

**201**

**Figure 4.**

*Molytinae.*

**Figure 5.**

*Molytinae.*

**Subfamily Molytinae**

*\* ns = not significant.*

**Table 4.**

magnitude between the variables sets.

*N (pairs) = 12; degrees of freedom = 10;*

*in Mata de Cocal and in agriculture area.*

Canonical correlations and eigenvalues were observed in **Tables 5** and **6**. The correlation between the pair of canonical variables, also called canonical R, was approximately 0.79 in both areas, which represents the best possible correlation between any linear combination of the monthly meteorological data with the records monthly of the subfamilies Curculionidae. The Canonical R statistic expresses the relationship

*Correlation between monthly records of population curculionids fluctuation and monthly meteorological data* 

*Dispersion diagram: the monthly relative air humidity data versus the monthly population fluctuation of* 

*Dispersion diagram: the monthly average temperature data versus the monthly population fluctuation of* 

**Insolation (h.d−1) Humidity (%) Precipitation** 

Mata de cocal −0.61 < 0.05 0.42 ns\* 0.29 ns −0.38 ns Agricultural field −0.63 < 0.05 0.68 < 0.05 0.56 < 0.10 −0.70 < 0.05

**(mm)**

**(r) p- value (r) p- value (r) p- value (r) p- value**

**Temperature (°C)**

*Beetles and Meteorological Conditions: A Case Study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94517*

**Figure 4.**

*Agrometeorology*

cal variables (**Table 4**).

*3.2.2.2 Relationship between curculionids and meteorological variables*

monthly meteorological data were correlated.

Beetles like all living things are subject to the nature forces, so there is a relevant influence in a way that can inhibit or favor a particular group of insects. Studying the relationship between meteorological factors and the population fluctuation of beetles is important for understanding the variation that occurs in their population. For investigation and understanding of this association in the Mata de Cocal and in the agricultural field, the monthly records of the subfamilies fluctuation and the

Significantly, in Mata de Cocal, the subfamily Molytinae was negatively associated with heat stroke (−0.61; p < 0.05), while the same subfamily, in an agricultural area, was negatively associated with insolation (−0.70; p < 0.05) and temperature (−0.61; p < 0.05), and positively with humidity (0.68; p < 0.05) and precipitation (0.56; p < 0.10). In both areas, the Scolytinae subfamily had no significant association with a p-value equal to>0.10. **Figures 2**–**5** show that only the subfamily Molytinae, in the agriculture area, was significantly associated with all meteorologi-

Canonical correlation was performed between the monthly records of the subfamilies and the data set related to insolation, humidity, precipitation and temperature.

*Dispersion diagram: the daily insolation versus the monthly population fluctuation of Molytinae.*

*Dispersion diagram: the precipitation data versus the monthly population fluctuation of Molytinae.*

**200**

**Figure 3.**

**Figure 2.**

*Dispersion diagram: the monthly relative air humidity data versus the monthly population fluctuation of Molytinae.*

**Figure 5.**

*Dispersion diagram: the monthly average temperature data versus the monthly population fluctuation of Molytinae.*


#### **Table 4.**

*Correlation between monthly records of population curculionids fluctuation and monthly meteorological data in Mata de Cocal and in agriculture area.*

Canonical correlations and eigenvalues were observed in **Tables 5** and **6**. The correlation between the pair of canonical variables, also called canonical R, was approximately 0.79 in both areas, which represents the best possible correlation between any linear combination of the monthly meteorological data with the records monthly of the subfamilies Curculionidae. The Canonical R statistic expresses the relationship magnitude between the variables sets.


*Agricultural field: canonical R= 0.79; canonical R2 = 0,62;* χ*2 = 10.6400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value <0.2229.*

**Table 5.**

*Canonical correlation between the beetle population fluctuation records and the meteorological data set (V).*


*Mata de cocal***:** *canonical R= 0.79; canonical R2 = 0.63;* χ*2 = 11.5400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value < 0.1729. Agricultural field: canonical R = 0,79; canonical R2 = 0.62;* χ*2 = 10.6400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value < 0.2229.*

#### **Table 6.**

*Canonical correlation between data on meteorological variables and beetle population fluctuation record sets (U).*

The Chi-Square (χ2) equal to 11.5400, with 8 degrees of freedom, was recorded in the Mata de Cocal, and the Chi-Square (χ2) equal to 10.6400, with 8 degrees of freedom, in the agricultural area, for the association between the variables sets: monthly records of the subfamilies population fluctuation and the monthly meteorological data. The Molytinae subfamily had a greater association with the monthly data set on meteorological variables in both areas.

The Curculionidae community in the agricultural area obtained the greatest associations with the monthly meteorological data as shown in **Table 6**. In both areas, there was association with the relative air humidity and precipitation positively and insolation and the average temperature in a negative way. In Mata de Cocal, there was a greater association with insolation (−0.80) and a lower association with temperature (−0.33), while there was a greater association with insolation and temperature (−0.87) and less association with precipitation (0.82) in the agricultural area.

Probably, the presence of trees in Mata de Cocal provided microtemporal conditions that favored the subfamilies not to become so dependent on meteorological variables.

#### **3.3 Ecological niche of the family Curculionidae**

The identified subfamilies specimens occupy a functional or biological position within the ecosystem in which they are inserted. This includes what they represent in the overall ecosystem, by what they do and how they do.

The curculionids, along with Cerambycidae family beetles, are the ones that occur most associated with native and exotic forest species, performing an important role in the wood degradation [28]. They stand out for the great number of species and high degree of polyphagia: there are species that can be xylophages, mycophages or spermatophytes [28–31]. They occur in forest species native to the Mata de Cocal, such as the babassu coconut palm [32]. These insects are common in tropical regions and only attack live trees that show changes in their physiological conditions [28, 31].

**203**

**Author details**

**4. Conclusion**

Marcos Paulo Gomes Gonçalves

refinements and deeper inflections.

Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Teresina, Brazil

provided the original work is properly cited.

\*Address all correspondence to: mpgg1988@gmail.com

dependent on meteorological variables as in agricultural fields.

*Beetles and Meteorological Conditions: A Case Study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94517*

vegetable material deterioration [31].

possible – full and permanent protection.

The curculionids diet basis is deficient in essential vitamins of group B and sterols, whose absence is compensated by a diet rich in nitrogen supplied by symbiotic fungi that synthesize them from nutrients absorbed from the galleries that they make inside the wood [30]. These specimens have a fundamental ecological role in the forests formation, as they recycle vegetable biomass. When they consume their hosts tissues, they facilitate the saprophytic organisms entry that accelerate the

Given that each species can be associated with several factors such as the climate, the soil, the vegetation type, among others, the deforestation processes of the native forest areas, can lead to the species loss, causing changes in their community [1]. All physical and biological entities in a given ecosystem form a unified and complex integral system [1]. As seen, there is a deep, direct and essential link between curculionids and the ecological processes of the ecosystem in which they are inserted. Given this importance, it is necessary for them to remain in the environment in which they are, for that reason, there must be the maintenance of meteorological conditions related to insolation, precipitation, temperature and humidity, as well as the conservation – rational use – of the Mata de Cocal when its preservation is not

Given the above, it is inferred that beetles populations certain (such as the subfamily Molytinae in the present study) are governed and conditioned by meteorological variables to a greater or lesser extent depending on the characteristics of the community itself and the biotic and abiotic environmental factors of the area where they live. From the case presented, it verifies that the Curculionidae community has a positive association with precipitation and humidity and a negative association with insolation and temperature, being that in native forests curculionids are not as

Finally, as this chapter shows the association of curculionids with meteorological parameters in two habitats: Mata de Cocal and agricultural field; it becomes important as a parameter for a first description for further ecological studies of taxonomic

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*Beetles and Meteorological Conditions: A Case Study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94517*

The curculionids diet basis is deficient in essential vitamins of group B and sterols, whose absence is compensated by a diet rich in nitrogen supplied by symbiotic fungi that synthesize them from nutrients absorbed from the galleries that they make inside the wood [30]. These specimens have a fundamental ecological role in the forests formation, as they recycle vegetable biomass. When they consume their hosts tissues, they facilitate the saprophytic organisms entry that accelerate the vegetable material deterioration [31].

Given that each species can be associated with several factors such as the climate, the soil, the vegetation type, among others, the deforestation processes of the native forest areas, can lead to the species loss, causing changes in their community [1].

All physical and biological entities in a given ecosystem form a unified and complex integral system [1]. As seen, there is a deep, direct and essential link between curculionids and the ecological processes of the ecosystem in which they are inserted.

Given this importance, it is necessary for them to remain in the environment in which they are, for that reason, there must be the maintenance of meteorological conditions related to insolation, precipitation, temperature and humidity, as well as the conservation – rational use – of the Mata de Cocal when its preservation is not possible – full and permanent protection.

## **4. Conclusion**

*Agrometeorology*

*<0.2229.*

**Table 5.**

*0.2229.*

**Table 6.**

U (Agricultural field)

*Mata de cocal: canonical R= 0.79; canonical R2*

*Mata de cocal***:** *canonical R= 0.79; canonical R2*

*Agricultural field: canonical R = 0,79; canonical R2*

*Agricultural field: canonical R= 0.79; canonical R2*

The Chi-Square (χ2) equal to 11.5400, with 8 degrees of freedom, was recorded in the Mata de Cocal, and the Chi-Square (χ2) equal to 10.6400, with 8 degrees of freedom, in the agricultural area, for the association between the variables sets: monthly records of the subfamilies population fluctuation and the monthly meteorological data. The Molytinae subfamily had a greater association with the monthly

*Canonical correlation between data on meteorological variables and beetle population fluctuation record sets (U).*

**Mata de cocal Agricultural field Molytinae Scolytinae Molytinae Scolytinae**

−0.87 0.86 0.82 −0.87

*= 0.63;* χ*2 = 11.5400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value < 0.1729.*

 *= 0,62;* χ*2 = 10.6400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value* 

*= 0.63;* χ*2 = 11.5400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value < 0.1729.*

*= 0.62;* χ*2 = 10.6400, 15; Degrees of freedom= 8; p-value <* 

**Precipitation (mm) Average** 

**temperature (° C)**

V 0.93 0.21 0.97 0.40

*Canonical correlation between the beetle population fluctuation records and the meteorological data set (V).*

**humidity (%)**

U (mata de cocal) −0.80 0.42 0.42 −0.33

**Insolation (h.d−1) Relative air** 

The Curculionidae community in the agricultural area obtained the greatest associations with the monthly meteorological data as shown in **Table 6**. In both areas, there was association with the relative air humidity and precipitation positively and insolation and the average temperature in a negative way. In Mata de Cocal, there was a greater association with insolation (−0.80) and a lower association with temperature (−0.33), while there was a greater association with insolation and temperature (−0.87) and less association with precipitation (0.82) in the

Probably, the presence of trees in Mata de Cocal provided microtemporal conditions that favored the subfamilies not to become so dependent on meteorological

The identified subfamilies specimens occupy a functional or biological position within the ecosystem in which they are inserted. This includes what they represent

The curculionids, along with Cerambycidae family beetles, are the ones that occur most associated with native and exotic forest species, performing an important role in the wood degradation [28]. They stand out for the great number of species and high degree of polyphagia: there are species that can be xylophages, mycophages or spermatophytes [28–31]. They occur in forest species native to the Mata de Cocal, such as the babassu coconut palm [32]. These insects are common in tropical regions and only attack live trees that show changes in their physiological conditions [28, 31].

data set on meteorological variables in both areas.

**3.3 Ecological niche of the family Curculionidae**

in the overall ecosystem, by what they do and how they do.

**202**

agricultural area.

variables.

Given the above, it is inferred that beetles populations certain (such as the subfamily Molytinae in the present study) are governed and conditioned by meteorological variables to a greater or lesser extent depending on the characteristics of the community itself and the biotic and abiotic environmental factors of the area where they live. From the case presented, it verifies that the Curculionidae community has a positive association with precipitation and humidity and a negative association with insolation and temperature, being that in native forests curculionids are not as dependent on meteorological variables as in agricultural fields.

Finally, as this chapter shows the association of curculionids with meteorological parameters in two habitats: Mata de Cocal and agricultural field; it becomes important as a parameter for a first description for further ecological studies of taxonomic refinements and deeper inflections.

#### **Author details**

Marcos Paulo Gomes Gonçalves Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Teresina, Brazil

\*Address all correspondence to: mpgg1988@gmail.com

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
