Trophic Structure of arthropod community within Muhlenbergia robusta (Poaceae) in two contrasting seasons

Authors

  • Miguel Ángel Blanco Becerril Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Víctor López Gómez Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Zenón Cano Santana Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32870/dugesiana.v17i2.3970

Keywords:

arthropods, grass , trophic structure, food chain length, connectance, food web, seasonal conditions

Abstract

Muhlenbergia robusta (E. Fourn.) Hitchc. (Poaceae) is very abundant in the Pedregal de San Ángel Ecological Reserve (REPSA byits Spanish abbreviators). This plant host a high diversity of arthropods, nevertheless it is unknown its trophic structure. The goals of thisstudy were (1) to compare the food web, the food chain length and the connectance between wet and dry seasons, (2) to describe the relativeabundance of arthropods guilds between seasons, and (3) to compare richness, abundance and diversity of arthropods between these seasons.To know these, 34 individual grasses were collected in the REPSA during 2007. The arthropods collected were put in a terrarium and theirtrophic interactions were recorded since January until December of 2007 for 18 h per week. Food webs were made for dry and wet seasonsand relative abundance of the guilds were determined. The number of links (17), the mean food chain length (2) and richness (17) were higherin dry season than wet season (10, 1.5 y 13, respectively). Proportional abundance of detritivores (44%) and carrion-feeders (45%) werehigher in dry season, whereas carnivorous (73%) showed the highest proportional abundance in wet season. The means of richness (14.9),abundance (51.7) and index diversity (2.1) of arthropods per plant were higher in wet season than dry season (6.6, 15.3 y 1.46, respectively).It was concluded that food web of arthropods within M. robusta have a higher trophic dynamic in dry season, whereas in wet season, the arthropod community was more diversity. Besides it was concluded that M. robusta food web is a complex system and an appropriate system for studies about trophic structure.

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Published

2015-09-23

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2010): Diciembre 2010

Section

Artículos

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