Abstract

JONES, Robert W.; BIZUET-FLORES, Yolanda  and  LUNA-COZAR, Jesús. Species richness and abundance of leaf litter weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in oak forests under different disturbance regimes in Central Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2022, vol.93, e933848.  Epub Dec 05, 2022. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2022.93.3848.

The objectives of the study were to determine and compare species richness and abundance of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from leaf litter of oak forests from 3 isolated mountain ranges with different disturbance regimes in the state of Querétaro, Mexico. A total of 1,099 weevils were collected from 639 litter samples with total weevil densities averaging 1.72 ± 1.31 individuals per 0.5 m2. Nineteen genera and 49 species were recorded with an estimated richness of 69.23 (Chao 1). All but 2 weevil genera have been previously reported from cloud forests of southern Mexico, and most species (88%) represented undescribed taxa. Fewer than 25% of the species were shared among the 3 sites. The differences in species richness and abundance between paired plots with different disturbance regimes were most marked in the least disturbed sites in Pinal de Amoles and San Joaquín. Results indicate that leaf litter weevil communities in oak forests of central Mexico are similar in taxonomic composition and richness to cloud forests from southern Mexico and that even small, moderately disturbed fragments may be sufficient to maintain their populations.

Keywords : Temperate forests; Beetles; Conservation; Deforestation; Mountains.

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