Artrópodes em copas de Callisthene fasciculata (SPR.) mart. (VOCHYSIACEAE) no Pantanal de Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstract

The reason of the high diversity in tropical forests, as well as its maintenance mechanism, despite of many studies, are poorly understood for certain taxonomic groups. In these areas, arthropods are responsible for a great richness of species, being the studies referring to the degree of specialization among strata and host specificity in these forests are important parameters to estimate about global biodiversity. Considering the importance of these organisms, this study analyzed the influence of temporal variation on the structure and composition of arthropod communities in canopies of Callisthene fasciculata (Spr.) Mart. (Vochysiaceae) in high water and dry seasons, in Pantanal of Mato Grosso State. The collection was performed on 12 individuals of C. fasciculata, six ones on each seasonal period, in 2010 and 2011, making use of canopy fogging with insecticide. Altogether, 28,197 arthropods were collected and shared into three classes and 24 taxonomic orders. Among these arthropods, Coleoptera, Formicidae (Hexapoda), Araneae and Scorpiones (Arachnida) were selected for specified tests. Only for Scorpiones data were collected from four seasonal periods (high water, low water, dry season and flood period). Coleoptera assembling was represented for 38 families and 251 species/morphospecies. Formicidae was represented by four subfamilies and 26 species. Araneae was distributed in 23 families and 41 species. It has also been observed the possible survival strategy for Tityus paraguayensis Kraepelin, 1895 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in these areas where they dwell in C. fasciculata canopies, exclusively at the aquatic phase (high water and low water periods). In general, analysis show that the different taxa have different behavior over the assessed seasonal periods, highlighting the direct effect of temporal variation and, indirectly, phenologic variation of C. fasciculata on the organization of these arthropods communities, because of the complex distribution of species in this habitat, considering the site important for Pantanal biodiversity conservation.