Abstract

WILCHES-ALVAREZ, Winston; BOTERO-A, Manuel Fernando  and  CORTES-P., Francisco. Macroinvertebrates associated with Guzmania mitis L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae) in two fragments of oak grove. Colomb. for. [online]. 2013, vol.16, n.1, pp.5-20. ISSN 0120-0739.

The composition and abundance of macroinvertebrates associated with the terrestrial bromeliad Guzmania mitis in two fragments of oak grove with different conservation status in Arcabuco, Boyacá were studied. The study aimed to establish whether there are differences in the composition and abundance of macroinvertebrates between fragments and their possible causes, and to identify groups of macroinvertebrates that may serve as indicators of alterations to oak groves. Two macroinvertebrates samples were made, one in the dry season in February and one in the rainy season in May 2006, in two physiognomically and structurally different oak grove fragments. Nine bromeliads per fragment were collected from which the macroinvertebrates were identified. 12 258 individuals were found, belonging to 20 orders, 52 families and 89 morphospecies, with orders Diptera and Coleoptera prominent in larval stages. The cluster analysis in the disturbed fragment had a higher abundance of Chironomidae and low abundance of Scirtidae, whereas the conserved fragment had low abundance of Chironomidae and high numbers of Scirtidae. No significant relationship was found between abundance, diversity (Shannon) and richness (Margalef) and variation in physicochemical parameters (dissolved O2 and pH) measured in bromeliads. The families Chironomidae and Scirtidae are proposed as good candidates for possible indicators of the degree of intervention in oak groves.

Keywords : bioindicators; terrestrial bromeliads; Chironomidae; Fitotelma; macroinvertebrates; Scirtidae.

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