Abstract

GOMEZ-OTAMENDI, Edel et al. Ground-dwelling ant diversity in cactus pear crops (Opuntia albicarpa) and Opuntia spp. scrublands in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2018, vol.89, n.2, pp.454-465. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.2.2293.

To achieve equilibrium between biodiversity conservation and human food requirements, we must recognize agricultural landscapes that maintain local biological diversity. In the Mexican High Plateau, cactus pear crops (Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar) are perennial agroecosystems with complex vegetation structure, but little is known about their role in maintaining the biodiversity of the native ecosystem (xerophilous scrubland dominated by Opuntia spp). Our objective was to compare ground-dwelling ant (Formicidae) species richness, abundance, diversity and composition between natural Opuntia scrubland and cactus pear crops in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, as well as to detect possible ant indicator species of these habitats. Using pitfall traps we collected 12,839 ants of 25 species, 17 genera and 6 subfamilies. We did not find significant differences in cumulative species richness, nor in mean abundance, richness or diversity between natural scrublands and cactus crops. Neither a significant difference was found in species composition between natural scrublands and cactus crops sites. Our results indicate that cactus pear crops may be considered as reservoirs of ant diversity, given their role in maintaining the regional biotic homogeneity of the xerophilous scrubland.

Keywords : Agroecosystems; Ant community ecology; Indicator species; Formicidae; Prickly pear cactus; Biodiversity reservoirs.

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