Abstract
Rice fields occupy large areas in Northeastern Argentina, and in Corrientes this widespead activity has become a feature in the landscape, as it is one of the main producing provinces. The aquatic Coleoptera is part of the fauna inhabiting these artificial environments but little is known about this group in irrigated rice fields. The aims of this study were to determine the diversity and species richness of coleopterans in a typical rice field, and to characterize the community of water beetles through different abundance models. For this, samples were collected from an active rice field located in "El Sombrero" town, in Corrientes Province, between November 2011 and April 2012. An entomological net of 30 cm diameter was used, and species richness, diversity and equitability were calculated monthly; besides, the community composition was characterized by means of rank-abundance models. A total of 74 species of aquatic coleopterans were identified. January and February resulted the months with the highest diversity. The aquatic Coleoptera species found in most of the sampled months were adjusted to the logarithmic rank-abundance model. The data suggests that, if it is properly managed, rice cropping in Northeastern Argentina can support a diverse aquatic coleopteran fauna.
Highlights
Rice fields occupy large areas in Northeastern Argentina, and in Corrientes this widespead activity has become a feature in the landscape, as it is one of the main producing provinces
In order to compare richness and diversity of the aquatic Coleoptera community among the six months sampled, the parameters were rarefied to the smallest individual number (April, N = 205)
Previous studies recognize the Coleoptera as the most diverse insect order living in rice fields in the province Corrientes
Summary
Rice fields occupy large areas in Northeastern Argentina, and in Corrientes this widespead activity has become a feature in the landscape, as it is one of the main producing provinces. The aims of this study were to determine the diversity and species richness of coleopterans in a typical rice field, and to characterize the community of water beetles through different abundance models. The irrigated rice fields behave as temporary wetlands, with alternating periods of flooding in summer and drought in winter (Fasola & Ruiz, 1996) These rice fields act as artificial aquatic ecosystems which connect and share water with natural wetlands (rivers and water courses, groundwater or dams filled with rainwater) (Blanco & Balze, 2011). These man-made environments, are included in the definition of wetlands adopted by the Wetlands
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