Velázquez-Candelario, Odalies
Loading...
1 results
Publication Search Results
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Publication Diversidad de hormigas (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en cultivos de cítricos y áreas boscosas aledañas a zonas agrícolas del oeste de Puerto Rico.(2012) Velázquez-Candelario, Odalies; Acosta-Martínez, Jaime A.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Armstrong Ramírez, Arístides M.; Santos Flores, Carlos J.; Department of Biology; O’Farrill Nieves, HipólitoThe purpose of this investigation was to study the composition of the ant fauna in citric plantations and in nearby forested areas within the three agricultural experiment substations of the west side of Puerto Rico and a research farm in Mayagüez, all properties of the University of Puerto Rico. The collection of samples in each locality was made once a month from June through December, 2009, and from March through May, 2010. Four collecting methods were employed in each locality: pitfall traps (20), sugar baits (10), tuna baits (10) and extraction from leaf litter using the Berlese funnel (14), in addition to a combination of manual collection and beating. The abundance, richness and diversity of ants were determined for each of the two sites within each locality to eventually establish comparisons between them. A total of 58 ant species of 24 genera, belonging to 5 subfamilies were identified. The combination of the sampling methods allowed the collection of 63% of the known ant fauna of Puerto Rico. Endemic and exotic species were found in both sites of each locality. ANOVA results showed no significant differences in the abundance of ant species between citric zones of the four localities, neither between forested areas. Although ANOVA found no significant differences in the monthly abundance of species in citric or in forested areas, it did find in the monthly composition of the ant fauna in both zones.