Influence of various farmland habitats on abundance of Taeniaptera (Diptera: Micropezidae)
Keywords:
micropezids, Taeniaptera lasciva, Cerrado vegetation, organic vegetable crop, abundanceAbstract
Stilt-legged flies play an important ecological role in the process of decomposition of organic matter and, on occasion, in the biological control of insects. Currently, there are 46 known species of Taeniaptera Macquart (Diptera: Micropezidae), and their occurrence is reported in various environments throughout the tropics. In contrast, population information on their temporal and spatial distribution is scarce in areas of the Cerrado biome in Brazil, where habitats are highly disturbed and fragmented by agricultural practices and, therefore, the abundance of the group may change. This study assessed abundance of Taeniaptera species in habitats associated with farmland, and determined the change in abundance throughout the year. The stiltlegged flies were sampled in various habitats, namely, organically produced vegetable crops, fallow areas, agroforestry, and native vegetation associated with 4 farms located in the Federal District. In each habitat, one Malaise trap was installed, which remained in place for 72 h, at 14 d intervals, from Mar 2012 to Feb 2013. In total, 486 individuals were collected and identified as members of the species T. lasciva (F.), T. annulata (F.), and Taeniaptera sp. The mean abundance of flies was highest in vegetable crops when compared with other habitats, and the abundance was relatively steady throughout the year. Among the habitats sampled, vegetable crop systems were the most suitable habitats for conserving Taeniaptera species.
Resumen
Las moscas de patas largas juegan un papel ecológico importante en el proceso de descomposición de la materia orgánica y, en ocasiones, en el control biológico de insectos. Actualmente, hay 46 especies conocidas de Taeniaptera Macquart (Diptera: Micropezidae), y su incidencia se reporta en diversos ambientes en los trópicos. Por el contrario, información sobre distribución temporal y espacial de poblaciones es escasa en áreas del bioma del Cerrado en Brasil, donde los hábitats están muy perturbados y fragmentados por las prácticas agrícolas y, por lo tanto, la abundancia del grupo puede cambiar. Este estudio evaluó la abundancia de especies de Taeniaptera en hábitats asociados con tierras de cultivo, y determino los cambios durante todo el año. Se tomaron muestras de las moscas de patas largas en diversos hábitats, es decir, en cultivos de hortalizas producidos organicamente, áreas de barbecho, agrosilvicultura y vegetación nativa asociada con 4 campos ubicados en el Distrito Federal. En cada hábitat, se instaló una trampa Malaise, que permaneció en el lugar durante 72 horas, en intervalos de 14 dias, desde el marzo del 2012 a febrero del 2013. En total, 486 individuos fueron recolectados e identificados como miembros de la especie T. lasciva (F. ), T. annulata (F.) y Taeniaptera sp. El promedio de la abundancia de las moscas fue más alta en los cultivos de hortalizas en comparación con otros hábitats, y la abundancia fue relativamente constante durante todo el año. Entre los hábitats incluidos en la muestra, los sistemas de cultivo de hortalizas fueron los hábitats más adecuados para la conservación de las especies de Taeniaptera.
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