Presence of Vaejovis franckei in epiphytic bromeliads in three temperate forest types

Abstract

Abstract Reports of scorpions on epiphytic bromeliads in temperate forests are scarce. Here we present some ecological aspects of this animal-plant interaction in three different types of temperate forests (pine, pine-oak and oak forest) in Oaxaca, Mexico. From 2005 to 2007, we collected 373 bromeliads belonging to 10 species, and each plant was defoliated in search of scorpions. We found 35 individuals of Vaejovis franckei Sissom 1989 in 19 bromeliads: 22 specimens in Tillandsia carlos-hankii with 21% occupancy and an average abundance of 2.1 ± 1.9 individuals/plant; 12 specimens in T. prodigiosa (10% occupancy, average abundance = 1.6 ± 0.6) and one specimen in T. calothyrsus (3% occupancy, average abundance = 1 ± 0.0). Pine-oak forest had 29 individuals; pine forest, 4 individuals; and oak forest, 2 individuals. Percentage of occupancy differed among localities, while average abundance remained the same. Vaejovis franckei preferred T. carlos-hankii and pine-oak forest, which was correlated with the...