DIVERSIDAD BETA EN LOS HUMEDALES COSTEROS DE LIMA, PERÚ: ESTIMACIÓN CON ÍNDICES DE PRESENCIA/AUSENCIA Y SUS IMPLICANCIAS EN CONSERVACIÓN

Abstract

Keywords: beta diversity-birdlife-vascular plants-wetlands The wetlands of the Peruvian coast form a very important corridor of diversity in the South American desert. Studying the beta diversity at the regional level is essential to properly measure its diversity and preserve this ecosystem. This paper seeks to estimate beta diversity at the regional level using the presence / absence of vascular plants and birds. This study also seeks to know the local beta diversity using data from previous studies in four wetlands of this region. In all cases, Wittaker beta index (β) and Cody beta index (β) were calculated. Within each W C locality, the average Simpson index (1-D) and Shannon Wiener index (H) were also calculated, so as to compare two alpha and beta estimators. The correlation between β , β , richness, 1-D and H was estimated by Pearson tests. All W C calculations were performed using the software PAST 2.14c. Beta diversity at regional scale for birds (β = 0.37; β = W C 64.5) is lower than that of the plants (β = 1.52; β = 99.5), inversely to richness values (birds = 149, plants = 122 W C species). Local beta diversity was higher than the regional diversity (Santa Rosa β =4.75 y β =63; Medio Mundo β W C W =5.56 y β =37; Paraíso β =4.29 y β =45.5; Puerto Viejo β =4.76 y β =5); locally, W was directly proportional to C W C W C richness; 1-D was directly proportional to H. These results are the first estimates of regional beta diversity through beta indices. β represents better the local richness than alpha indices, making it a very good estimator of local and C regional richness. The implications of these results in decision making for the conservation of diversity in these wetlands are discussed.