VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BARK BEETLES AND BORERS IN A TROPICAL FOREST

Abstract

Background. In tropical ecosystems, a great diversity of bark beetles and borers can be recognized, however, this diversity could be underrepresented due to the fact that the studies have been carried out mostly below 2 m in height, which makes it necessary to study them more widely and effectively. Objective. To analyze the vertical distribution of Scolytinae, Platypodinae (Curculionidae) and Bostrichidae at the edge and interior of a tropical forest in Tabasco, Mexico. Methodology. The study was carried out in the high evergreen rainforest of the Sierra el Madrigal in the municipality of Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico. The capture of insects was carried out with flight interception traps baited with 70% ethanol at three different heights: 1.5, 6 and 12 m. Results. The diversity index (1D) showed that the greatest diversity at the edge and interior of the forest is at 1.5 m. However, the traps at the edge located 12 m high captured the greatest richness, and the maximum richness in the interior was recorded at 1.5 m. Stratification of species richness was presented at the edge and interior of the forest. Statistical differences in abundance were found between the evaluated heights: at the edge, these occurred in January, April, October and November; and in the interior, in April. According to the diversity estimation (1D), statistical differences were presented in the months of April and October at the edge of the vegetation, and in the interior in March, April and June. Implications. The results provide a broader picture of the vertical distribution of the insects studied here, which are important in the dynamics of forest ecosystems. Conclusion. The diversity and abundance of insects change over time, and that more detailed studies are lacking to know the degree of variations associated with environmental variables.