Diel Activity of Fauna in Different Habitats Sampled at the Autumnal Equinox
Abstract
Experiments were conducted to examine the diurnal responses and abundance of arthropods at the autumn equinox in 2010. Experiments were conducted in 3 different fields, each with a different plant species: sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge), and sandbur grass (Cenchrus spp.) using a randomized complete block design. Data were collected on numbers of arthropods caught in pitfall traps and on sticky cards. The long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) and thrips (Thysanoptera) collected were consistently diurnal, while ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), springtails (Collembola: Entomobryidae), micro-Diptera and tumbling flower beetles (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) were diurnal in one experiment. Elateridae and Aphididae tended to be nocturnal taxa, but plant height had some effect as well because aphid numbers were significantly higher in tall (182.3 cm) sunn hemp than in short (88.1 cm) sunn hemp at night time only. Cicadellidae were active during both day and night time and showed different levels of activity in pitfall traps and on sticky cards. Pitfall traps were found to be very effective for sampling insect taxa including Formicidae, Elateridae, and Collembola, while micro-Diptera, thrips, aphids, and Mordellidae were commonly caught on sticky cards. Cicadellidae and Dolichopodidae were commonly recovered in pitfall traps and on sticky cards.Se realizaron experimentos para examinar las respuestas diurnas y de abundancia de artrópodos en el equinoccio de otoño en el 2010. Se realizaron los experimentos en tres campos diferentes, cada uno con diferentes especies de plantas: cáñamo de la India (Crotalaria juncea L.), pasto de bahia (Paspalum notatum Flugge), y el pasto sandbur (Cenchrus spp.) utilizando un diseño de bloques completos al azar. Se recolectaron los datos del número de artrópodos capturados en las trampas de caída y en las tarjetas pegajosas. Las moscas de patas largas (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) y trips (Thysanoptera) recogidos fueron consistentemente diurnos, mientras que las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), colémbolos (Collembola: Entomobryidae), micro-Diptera y los escarabajos volteretos de las flores (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) fueron diurnos en uno de los experimentos. Los Elateridae y Aphididae tendían a ser los taxones nocturnos, pero la altura de la planta tuvo cierto efecto, así dado que el número de áfidos fueron significativamente mayores en plantas altas de cáñamo de la India (182.3 cm) que en plantas bajas (88.1 cm) de cáñamo de la India solamente durante la noche. Los Cicadellidae fueron activos durante el día y la noche y mostraron diferentes niveles de actividad en las trampas de caída y trampas pegajosas. Las trampas de caída fueron muy eficaces para el muestreo de taxones de insectos diferentes que incluyen Formicidae, Elateridae y Collembola, mientras que los micro-Diptera, trips, pulgones, y Mordellidae fueron comunes en las trampas pegajosas. Los Cicadellidae y Dolichopodidae fueron recuperados comúnmente tanto en las trampas de caída como en las trampas pegajosas.
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