To test this hypothesis, we simulated O. albomarginata chamela physical modification of S. purpurea branches, and compared the community composition, frequency of colonization, abundance and species richness of secondary arthropod colonizers between non-engineered and engineered branches (both artificially and naturally modified branches).
The abundance and species richness of xylovore insects were higher in engineered branches than in non-engineered branches, possibly due to greater quantity and quality of habitat and food resources provided by engineered branches [51].
In this study, the overall abundance and species richness of natural enemies was higher in engineered branches than in non-engineered branches.
In order to evaluate the effect of ecosystem engineering by O. albomarginata chamela on the arthropod community, during December 2006 to January 2008, we conducted a field experiment consisting of three treatments (N ≈ 50 branches/treatment): O. albomarginata chamela engineered and colonized-branches (OE), artificially simulated engineered branches (SE), and non-engineered branches (NE).
All secondary colonizers significantly colonized engineered branches (treatments OE and SE) more frequently than non-engineered branches (NE; Figure 2), with the exception of Buprestidae for which significant differences were found only between O. albomarginata chamela-colonized branches (OE) and non-engineered branches (NE) in 2007 and 2008 (Figure 2).
When coupled with an engineered branched-chain amino acid pathway to enrich the branched-chain α-ketoacid pool, BCFA can be produced from glucose at 181 mg/L and 72% of total FFA.
Five cerambycid species were restricted to engineered branches in the three studied years (Table 1).
These findings suggest that the increased species richness in engineered branches can be a consequence of the greater abundance of specific egg niches required by specialist species.
We called this treatment "non-engineered branches" because mechanical factors, such as wind, water stress, mechanical branch damage, among others, detach a great proportion of branches and twigs from trees in the study site.
The three groups of secondary colonizers showed the following pattern of abundance: OE>SE>NE, where engineered vs. non-engineered branches (OE and SE vs. NE) showed significant differences for the three groups of secondary colonizers (Figure 3).
He hopes it will inspire architects and engineers to branch out beyond their concrete and steel confinements, and embrace a material that sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, holding it captive during its growth and lifetime in a structure – one tonne of CO2 per cubic metre of wood.
