SPACE-SEASONAL VARIATION OF EPIGEOUS ARACHNIDS (ARACHNIDA) IN THE PREPUNA JUJEÑA

PATRICIA MARTINEZ; ALEJO GABRIELA BEATRIZ; ZAMAR MARIA INES

Tafí del Valle_ Tucuman

Jornada; XXXVI Jornadas Científicas Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2019

ASOCIACIÓN DE BIOLOGÍA DE TUCUMAN

The objective of the study is to know the composition and abundance of arachnids in an altitude and seasonal gradient of the Prepuna jujeña. Four seasonal samples were carried out (autumn, winter, and spring 2016, and summer 2017), in Tumbaya, Chucalezna, Coraya, and Tres Cruces, whose altitudes above sea level are respectively: 2156, 2787, 3069 and 3693. On each date, 9 pitfalls were placed per sampling site separated by at least 100 m. The 500 mL containers contained 50% propylene glycol and 50% water. The traps were active for three days. The collected material was kept in flasks with 70% alcohol and the arachnids were identified at the family level by specific keys. 177 arachnids distributed in the orders Araneae (53.67%), Solifugae (38.42%), and Scorpionide (7.91%) were collected. According to the altitudinal variation, the maximum abundances of Arachnida were recorded in Coraya (36.93%) and Chucalezna (31.82%), followed by Tumbaya (16.38%) and Tres Cruces (12.43%). The family that was represented on all sites was Zodariidae (Araneae), while Ammotrechidae (Soliphuga) in Coraya and Chucalezna and Theridiidae (Araneae) only in Coraya. As for seasonality, summer was the period with the highest number of individuals (41.21%), decreasing in spring (35.3%), and winter and autumn (11.86%). Ammotrechidae was mostly represented in summer, spring and winter; Zodariidae in spring, summer and autumn, and Theridiidae only in summer. Taking everything into account, it is necessary to continue the studies of this group, especially spiders, because of their usefulness as potential bioindicators of environmental quality in semi-arid areas of Jujuy.