Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Student Year and Major
Year: Junior, Major: Biology
Presentation Description/Abstract
Aulacaspis yasumatsui , the Asian cycad scale, is a threat to cycads and causes the plants to decline. This study evaluated pest presence and ecological factors at Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens Florida. Surveys on 28–29 September and 23 October 2026 recorded 27 cycads: Zamia integrifolia (n = 11), Z. furfuracea (n = 11), Cycas revoluta (n = 2), C. rumphii (n = 2) and Encephalartos hildenbrandtii (n = 1). Attributes of the plants, the transparency of the canopy and the distance to paths were recorded. In the follow-up, one leaf was analyzed from each of five non-Zamia specimens. A 5 × 5 cm paper template was placed roughly in the middle of each leaf, and then moved between the left and right sides to count the visible scale spots on the upper surface separately. For each leaf, five chlorophyll index readings were taken with an atLEAF meter. At first, 31.3% of 16 plants were visibly infested with an average coverage of 32%. All four Cycas were clearly infested, but neither of the Zamia species was, even in the vicinity of C. rumphii. Follow-up counts were 144 and 127 for C. rumphii, 11 and 96 for C. revoluta and five for E. hildenbrandtii initially showing infestation. Previous work has shown effects of invasive insects on cycad reproduction and survival, which highlights the need for continued monitoring. Conclusions on susceptibility are limited by the restricted sampling; broader surveys from a range of locations will enable inspections to be prioritized and will inform pest management strategies.
Keywords
cycad conservation, Asian cycad scale, invasive species, chlorophyll monitoring, sustainable collection management
Cycad Health Assessment for Sustainable Collection Management
Aulacaspis yasumatsui , the Asian cycad scale, is a threat to cycads and causes the plants to decline. This study evaluated pest presence and ecological factors at Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens Florida. Surveys on 28–29 September and 23 October 2026 recorded 27 cycads: Zamia integrifolia (n = 11), Z. furfuracea (n = 11), Cycas revoluta (n = 2), C. rumphii (n = 2) and Encephalartos hildenbrandtii (n = 1). Attributes of the plants, the transparency of the canopy and the distance to paths were recorded. In the follow-up, one leaf was analyzed from each of five non-Zamia specimens. A 5 × 5 cm paper template was placed roughly in the middle of each leaf, and then moved between the left and right sides to count the visible scale spots on the upper surface separately. For each leaf, five chlorophyll index readings were taken with an atLEAF meter. At first, 31.3% of 16 plants were visibly infested with an average coverage of 32%. All four Cycas were clearly infested, but neither of the Zamia species was, even in the vicinity of C. rumphii. Follow-up counts were 144 and 127 for C. rumphii, 11 and 96 for C. revoluta and five for E. hildenbrandtii initially showing infestation. Previous work has shown effects of invasive insects on cycad reproduction and survival, which highlights the need for continued monitoring. Conclusions on susceptibility are limited by the restricted sampling; broader surveys from a range of locations will enable inspections to be prioritized and will inform pest management strategies.