Spatio-temporal diversity of Cryptinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) assemblages in a protected area of southeast Mexico

Abstract

Currently efforts for conservation have been globally increasing, with the declaration of Protected Natural Areas. However, these efforts are usually focused on mammal, bird or plant species, but there is a considerable lack of data in regard to insect fauna in most of the world’s reserves. In order to redress the balance, the aim of this work was to assess spatial and temporal diversity of Cryptinae, one of the most species-rich subfamily of hymenopteran parasitoids, in a Protected Natural Area in Mexico. The sampling program was conducted using Malaise traps, which were functioning throughout 2008–2009, in three vegetation types of Ría Lagartos Biosfere Reserve (Mexico). A total of 108 species were found. Rarefaction showed that there are no differences in species richness between vegetation types, but there are significant seasonal changes, being most specious in the rainy season. Regarding abundance, this was significantly affected by vegetation and season. Related to community structure, Agonocryptus chichimecus, Camera euryaspis, and Acerastes myartsevae were the dominating species in the assemblages. Dry forest and rainy season showed highest diversity and evenness. β-Diversity between vegetation types and season was high; the complementarity value reaches 82.4 and 77.7 % respectively. Spatial and temporal diversity partitions show that diversity had more changes related to vegetation types than to seasons. Diversity was strongly influenced by β-diversity between vegetation types and by β-diversity among months and among seasons, with a contribution to the total species richness with 49.4, 19.4 and 14.5 %, respectively.