INVESTIGADORES
DIAZ Sandra Myrna
artículos
Título:
The influence of habitat structure on arthropod diversity in Argentine semi-arid Chaco forest
Autor/es:
GARDNER, S.; CABIDO, M; VALLADARES, G.; DÍAZ, S.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 1995 vol. 6 p. 349 - 356
ISSN:
1100-9233
Resumen:
The Argentine Chaco is a mosaic of grassland and
open forest habitats maintained by natural disturbance activities
such as fire. Since the introduction of domestic livestock
and other human activities, the balance of this mosaic has been
significantly altered, both in plant species and structural composition.
This study focuses on the impact of such changes on
the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods within semi-arid
Chaco forest. Quantitative measures of habitat structure and
arthropod diversity were taken in forest areas previously subjected
to grazing, logging and ploughing. Results indicated
that arthropod diversity was smaller on sites with reduced
structural complexity, with marked changes in arthropod family
composition. The habitat components relating to plant
architectural and vertical diversity were particularly influential
on arthropod diversity. The guild size ratio of predatory to
non-predatory arthropods also differed significantly between
habitats suggesting a change in the resource base available to
some groups. The latter suggests a shift in the functional
organisation of the forest ecosystem which could have important
repercussions for the diversity of other trophic levels