Guzmán et al. 2012 (Conference Paper) Associated

Arthropods associated with three Species of Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae) in undisturbed and secondary Cloud Forest.

Author(s):—V. Guzmán J., T. Krömer, J.C. López A. & J.G. García F.

Publication:— (2012).

Abstract:—Epiphytic bromeliads play an important role as a refuge for high arthropod diversity. This study aims at comparing the diversity and composition of macroarthropods found in three species of Bromeliaceae differing in growth form, Tillandsia butzii (bulbous), T. kirchhoffiana (closed tank), and T. multicaulis (open tank), in an undisturbed cloud forest fragment and in a 20-year-old secondary forest in Tlalnelhuayocan, Central Veracruz, Mexico. Between September and October 2010 we collected 16 individuals of each Tillandsia species in the canopy of four mature trees per site; all plants were bagged and defoliated in the laboratory in search of arthropods. A total 597 individuals were found: 292 in the undisturbed forest (40 morphospecies, in 16 orders) and 305 in the secondary forest (27 morphospecies, in 11 orders). In the undisturbed forest T. multicaulis showed the highest number of morphospecies (28/13 orders), followed by T. kirchhoffiana (23/11 orders) and T. butzii (18/10 orders). In the secondary forest, T. kirchhoffiana had the highest number of morphospecies (25/13 orders), followed by T. multicaulis (18/10 orders) and T. butzii (13/9 orders). The higher number of orders and morphospecies in the undisturbed forest suggests that the diversity of arthropods is related to habitat conservation and shows the negative impact of human land use activities on biodiversity. The presence of highest arthropod diversity in T. multicaulis in humid, shaded undisturbed forest may be due to the mayor tank volume of T. multicaulis, whereas highest arthropod diversity in T. kirchhoffiana in the drier secondary forest may be explained by the more stable humidity regime in the closed tanks of the latter species. Surprisingly, the highest number of individuals was found in T. butzii in secondary forest. This is due to the presence of ants (Hymenoptera), related to myrmecophily in this bulbous species