Hornung & Palacios 2012 (Conference Paper) Associated

Tillandsia imperialis (Bromeliaceae) as a refuge of Collembola in cloud forest Hidalgo State, and ciscovery of a new Sminthurinus.

Author(s):—C.T. Hornung L. & J.G. Palacios V.

Publication:— (2012).

Abstract:—In Hidalgo State an important component of Mexican Cloud forest is present, but unfortunately destruction of this habitat is notorious. In this vegetation type it grows the epiphytic bromeliad Tillandsia imperialis which is included in NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. In this study arthropods in bromeliad tank were examined in rainy and drought seasons, and one interesting Collembola community was found. Detritus samples from 12 bromeliads between the years 2008-2009 were collected, and 77 specimens of Collembola of four species were obtained, including a new Sminthurinus (Katiannidae). This species was abundant in several bromeliads at high elevations (2,080 m asl) in the cloud forest. The other species, Willowsia mexicana, Xenylla grisea and Psedisotoma sensibilis are much less abundant.