Abstract

SANJUAN-TREJO, Gissela; MEJIA-SEGOVIA, Dulce M.  and  MORENO, Claudia E.. Arthropod ensembles associated to berry cactus fruits (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) in two localities of the Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2021, vol.92, e923487.  Epub Oct 25, 2021. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3487.

The garambullo (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) is a columnar cactus endemic to Mexico, for which different orders of arthropods have been reported as floral visitors. In this paper,we describe, by the first time, the ensembles of arthropods that use the fruits of this plant as food resource, place for shelter, mating or capturing prey. The study was carried out in 2 localities of the Mezquital Valley, and we compare sites close and far from human constructions.

In fruits of 60 garambullo plants we found 560 individuals of 93 arthropod morphospecies, grouped in 48 families of 8 orders. Hymenoptera had the highest number of morphospecies (38) and individuals (400). Despite the lack of differences in species richness among sites, in one locality we found lower diversity in plants located close than in plants far from human constructions. We found different composition in the ensembles between localities and between sites. The high abundance, diversity and dissimilarity in morphospecies composition show that the ensembles of arthropods in garambullo fruits can be important models to address different aspects of community ecology in ephemeral resources.

Keywords : Insects; Communities; Cactaceae; Arid zones; Hill numbers.

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