Estudio de hemípteros (Insecta: Hemíptera) presentes en la Reserva Natural Las Palmeras, Cubarral, Meta

Abstract

The high plains and the plain piedmont are an important source of natural resources, which include a wide variety of flora and fauna. These form habitats and ecosystems that have great ecological functions in the region. This research studied the presence of hemiptera diversity in Las Palmeras Nature Reserve, located in Cubarral, Meta. This study took place in four zones each delimited by the trails established in the reserve. The sampling process occurred from December 2016 to January 2017 with capturing methods such as traps of fall, Malaise, interception, Van Somer and manual collection. The collected individuals were preserved in 96% alcohol and determined up to the most specific taxonomic level possible. With the obtained data, the curve of accumulation of species was found, the indexes of alpha diversity Shannon-Wienner and Simpson were calculated, relating the natural and anthropic habitats present. Likewise, the equity indexes Fisher alpha and Berger-Parker were also calculated to compare each of the sampled areas. To establish the relationship of the hemipterans with the studied areas, principal components analysis and multiple correspondence analysis procedures were carried out, as well as an analysis of similarity to establish if there is a species exchange. A total of 549 hemipterans were collected, distributed in 21 families, 21 genera and 24 morphotypes. In addition, a sampling effort of 72.2% was obtained. The Cicadellidae family was the most abundant in the study and the one that presented the greatest richness, represented in 6 morphotypes and 2 genera. Equitability values presented a medium-high value while those of dominance were low, being coherent with the presence of the taxa present in the study. The most abundant and dominant taxon in the four established zones belongs to the genus Limnocoris Stål, 1860, this group prefers very humid - premontane forests. Zones A (parcela permanente trail) and B (comino trail), presented the highest percentage of similarity of 53.43% due to the exchange of species such as Cicadellidae3, Miridae1, Miridae2, Phylloxeridae1, Haplaxius and Rhagovelia; these two zones were categorized as conserved, while Zone D (sendero principal trail) presented a low percentage of similarity compared to the other three zones, the latter considered as the zone that presented the highest degree of anthropic intervention. There were found groups associated to a single area, such as Alloeorhynchus, Althos, Camptischium, Madura, Ghinalellia, and Dorisiana, which were only present in zone D. Therefore, the community of hemipterans available in Las Palmeras Nature Reserve does not present absolute dominance in the four zones in which the study was conducted. This research brings fundamental knowledge of the hemipterans diversity in the plain piedmont and high plains areas to the population of the department of Meta and Colombia, creating an awareness towards conservation of ecosystems and natural reserves