Community structure and diversity of Curculionidae (Hexapoda: Coleoptera) associated with the forest canopy in a Neotropical wetland

Resumen

Abstract Curculionidae are phytophagous beetles and, in the Brazilian Pantanal, are abundant on the ground and in the tree canopy. We studied two seasonal periods (wet period in 2012 and dry period in 2013) and two distinct phytophysiognomies, one monodominant and floodable (Cambarazal) and one nonmonodominant and nonfloodable (Cerradão Cordillera), to analyze the diversity, richness, and trophic guilds associated with the canopies of these vegetation types. The samples were collected via canopy fogging. A total of 4,456 individuals were collected and grouped into 13 subfamilies, 36 tribes, 59 genera, 258 morphospecies. The community structure was influenced by the different vegetation types. The greatest richness and diversity of Curculionidae occurred in the Cerradão Cordillera vegetation during both seasonal periods. The Cambarazal richness did not differ between the dry and wet periods, but the diversity was greater in the dry period. Four guilds, i.e., phyllophagous, spermophagus, xylophagus, and xylomycetophagus, were identified in both phytophysiognomies. The results revealed that the wet and dry periods and the type of phytophysiognomy influenced the community of Curculionidae in the canopies of Cambarazal and Cerradão Cordillera of the Pantanal of Poconé, MT, Brazil.