Abstract
ABSTRACT In Northwest Argentina, nothing is known about the relationship of Araneae and Coleoptera with sugar cane crops. Using pitfall traps in three continuous native forest sites (N) and three native forest windbreaks surrounded by sugar cane crops (W) in the province of Salta, we assessed a)- whether the native diversity of epigeal Araneae and Coleoptera in the Chaco Serrano forest changes as a result of the fragmentation of the habitat caused by the sugar cane plots, and b)- whether the diversity of predatory species increases in native forest windbreaks as a consequence of the contribution of species that come from crops. In the spring of 2006 and the summer of 2007, we collected 599 Araneae and 555 Coleoptera, with community W (S = 132, N = 535) containing much more species but fewer individuals than community N (S = 111, N = 619). We found that the spatial and phenological patterns of the alpha and beta diversities of N were altered in W communities. Thus, habitat fragmentation generated by sugar cane plots led to the local extinction of native Araneae and Coleoptera species. The abundance of generalist Araneae and herbivorous Coleoptera increased in W habitats, but the coprophagous and detritivorous beetles decreased. The diversity of predatory species (Araneae and some Coleoptera) increased in W habitats, although their abundance declined relative to N habitats. Species turnover determined beta diversity between N and W sites; however, between the W sites, nestedness increased and spiders showed a greater loss of species. The spatial heterogeneity between sites, seasons, and habitats had a substantial effect on the composition of the Araneae and Coleoptera assemblages, hence influencing regional diversity. Eight species were habitat indicators, particularly Leprolochus birabeni (Zodariidae), which responds unfavourably to perturbations in the agricultural landscape, and could be deployed as environmental monitors in the Chaco Serrano.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.