Temporal variation in the diversity of Cantharidae (Coleoptera), in seven assemblages in tropical dry forest in Mexico

Abstract

One aspect of cantharids that has received little attention is the analysis of temporal diversity patterns. For an approximation to this aspect, temporal variation in richness, abundance and temporal turnover in monthly species composition were analyzed for seven assemblages of Cantharidae associated to the Tropical Dry Forest (TDF), in Mexico. A search was also made for processes associated. High species richness and abundance for the rain season, high dissimilarity among the months of the inter-seasonal period, and common patterns of diversity in the assemblages, regardless of the species they included, were expected. The seven assemblages clearly displayed a seasonal pattern of abundance associated with the rain season, but the total expression of seasonality in each assemblage was determined by asynchronous emergence of genera and species, in addition to high temporal turnover in species composition. With few exceptions, abundance, richness and temporal turnover showed statistically significant correlation with variation in precipitation; temperature had apparently little or no influence. The results suggest that adult emergence could be determined by host plant phenology and, indirectly, by abiotic factors such as precipitation. The importance of conducting more comprehensive studies to provide accurate evidence to characterize temporal patterns of diversity in TDF insect assemblages and associated processes, not just indicating the presence-absence of species at given times and places is emphasized.