Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom, 1895), a very sensitive bioindicator of air pollution

Vasiliu-Oromulu, L. and Jenser, G. and Bărbuceanu, D. (2008) Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom, 1895), a very sensitive bioindicator of air pollution. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 43 (2). pp. 405-412. ISSN 0238-1249

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Abstract

The LIFE 02ENV/RO/000461AIR-AWARE project is partly dedicated to research on the flora and invertebrate fauna of downtown Bucharest (Romania). In this area, products of local industrial pollution, heavy metals, SO2 and powders in suspension exceed standard levels. The pilot zone is represented by two public parks in downtown Bucharest. Thysanopterological samples were collected from the herbaceous layer, on both weeds and ornamentals, following a transect approach. The preliminary results revealed a biodiversity that decreased from the park centres, which suffered the least air pollution, towards the edges of the parks, which were the most polluted. The dominant species was Frankliniella intonsa , which had high values for structural and functional indices, as well as morphological changes in body size, colour and antennae, all due to the air pollution. F. intonsa could be considered to be a very sensitive bioindicator of environmental pollution. Future analysis, however, may reveal whether Bagnalliella yuccae, F. intonsa or Haplothrips niger are more sensitive bioindicators for air pollution.

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