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<p>The present study evaluated the establishment, spatial distribution, molecular identity, diversity structure, and climatic drivers influencing the persistence of <i>Cecidochares connexa</i>, two decades after its introduction for the biological control of <i>Chromolaena odorata</i> in southern India. Surveys across 40 locations in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu revealed established populations in 28 sites across the first two states, confirming successful colonization. Kriging-based spatial interpolation indicated a heterogeneous and aggregated distribution, with high infestation intensity in central and coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala. Molecular confirmation using mitochondrial COI sequencing validated species identity with 100% sequence similarity, confirming conspecificity and genetic stability across populations. Diversity analyses indicated high Shannon-Wiener (3.05–3.42) and Simpson’s (0.95–0.98) indices, reflecting stable and evenly structured populations with minimal dominance. Rank-abundance and rarefaction analyses corroborated these findings, revealing high evenness and ecological maturity in Brahmavara, Hebri, and Someshwara. Pearson’s correlation showed that gall density was positively associated with annual mean temperature (<i>r</i> = 0.41) and negatively with precipitation of the driest month (<i>r</i> = -0.33). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the first two components explained 70.7% of the total variance, highlighting temperature as the dominant ecological determinant. Collectively, the results demonstrate that <i>C. connexa</i> is well established and climatically adapted in southern India, with temperature emerging as the key factor influencing its establishment success and biocontrol efficacy against <i>C. odorata</i>.</p>

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Mapping the spatial dynamics of Cecidochares connexa establishment across ecological gradients in Southern India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月24日

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  • Mudagadde G. Deeksha,
  • Richa Varshney,
  • A. N. Shylesha,
  • Yogita Gharde,
  • K. Srinivas

摘要

The present study evaluated the establishment, spatial distribution, molecular identity, diversity structure, and climatic drivers influencing the persistence of Cecidochares connexa, two decades after its introduction for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata in southern India. Surveys across 40 locations in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu revealed established populations in 28 sites across the first two states, confirming successful colonization. Kriging-based spatial interpolation indicated a heterogeneous and aggregated distribution, with high infestation intensity in central and coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala. Molecular confirmation using mitochondrial COI sequencing validated species identity with 100% sequence similarity, confirming conspecificity and genetic stability across populations. Diversity analyses indicated high Shannon-Wiener (3.05–3.42) and Simpson’s (0.95–0.98) indices, reflecting stable and evenly structured populations with minimal dominance. Rank-abundance and rarefaction analyses corroborated these findings, revealing high evenness and ecological maturity in Brahmavara, Hebri, and Someshwara. Pearson’s correlation showed that gall density was positively associated with annual mean temperature (r = 0.41) and negatively with precipitation of the driest month (r = -0.33). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the first two components explained 70.7% of the total variance, highlighting temperature as the dominant ecological determinant. Collectively, the results demonstrate that C. connexa is well established and climatically adapted in southern India, with temperature emerging as the key factor influencing its establishment success and biocontrol efficacy against C. odorata.