Transcript Comparison of Hymenopterans of Three Forest Types in Morro

Comparison of Hymenopterans of Three
Forest Types in Morro do Diabo, Sao
Paulo State, Brazil
Crystal Begin
Brazilian Atlantic Forest
SEE-U 2000
Introduction
Conservation of Biodiversity is a
relatively new approach within
conservation biology
 In the past the focus has been the
“keystone” species
 However the true value of the
ecosystem lies with its biodiversity

Introduction (cont’d)

Biodiversity is important!
– Variation among genes
– Variation among species
– Provides us with Biological Wealth
Introduction (cont’d)

In addition to the new focus
(biodiversity) the way in which
conservation is implemented has also
changed
– work with the inhabitants
– especially since many inhabitants occupy
the most biological diverse regions of the
world
Introduction (cont’d)

Morro do Diabo
– Is in essence a model reserve
– It seeks to conserve all organisms found
within and work with the surrounding
inhabitants in order to achieve its GOAL!

Basic Methods include:
– Transfer of Knowledge
– Agroforestry
Objective

The purpose of this report is to show
the importance of conservation and at
the same time illustrate how humans
can have a negative impact on
biodiversity
Hypotheses
Null: If disturbances to an ecosystem,
like fire and clear - cutting do not have
an effect on biodiversity, then they will
exhibit similar species richness and
abundance as the natural semi deciduous forest
 Alternate: The Natural Forest will have
the highest species richness and
abundance

Description Of Sites
Semi - Deciduous Forest
Methodology



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3 Pan Traps placed at each site
Remained at each site for the duration of one
week
After being retrieved Hymenopterans were
sorted on the basis of morphology and
classified to the best capability of an amateur
entomologist
Diversity Indices and Community Similarity
were determined with use of Quantran
Results
Three primary groups of
Hymenopterans present: Ants, Wasps,
and those of the suborder Symphyta
 Morphospecies of the Family Formicidae
were the most abundant at all three
sites
 The majority of the remaining
morphospecies are represented only by
one individual

Diversity Indices of all three sites
obtained by Quantran
Diversity Indices
Total
1.00
Site 1
Pine
0.90
Site 2
Guava
0.52
Site 3
Forest
0.98
Shannon Index
0.85
0.85
0.58
0.92
In base 10
Simpson Index
%
Similarity
Comparison of Community Similarity
between the Three Sites of Morro do
Diabo
Pine
Guava
Forest
Pine
1.00
0.34
0.35
Sorenson Coefficient
Guava
0.60
1.00
0.17
Forest
0.25
0.45
1.00
Discussion

103,000 known species of
Hymenopterans
– Diversity of this group is evident even at
Morro do Diabo

Abundance of Morphospecies varied
– some in high abundance others
represented only by one individual
– Could be a result of dry season, cold
temperatures and sampling method
Discussion (cont’d)

Shannon and Simpson Indices suggest
the following order:
– Natural Forest > Pine Monoculture >
Guava
Similarity was only present between the
two disturbed sites
 Lack of similarity to natural forest
supports the idea of high diversity in
the natural forest

Conclusion
Results of experiment suggest that the
three sites did not have the same level
of diversity and that the natural forest
had the highest diversity index
 Rejection of Hypothesis 1
 Acceptance of Hypothesis 2: However
it did not have the highest abundance,
as most morphospecies represented by
one individual

Conclusions

Guava and Pine sites low diversity:
– If these sites were able to continue
through community development:
Biodiversity could increase

Results suggest the importance in
maintaining and conserving the
ecosystem in its “original” state
Conclusions

“Life in a local site struck down by a
passing storm springs back quickly:
opportunistic species rush in to fill
spaces. They entrain the succession
that circles back to something
resembling the original environment”

Edward Wilson (1992)
Conclusions

Morro do diabo is essential
– because human pressures on the earth’s
resources are increasing with the
increasing growth rate
Biodiversity is not a concept that can be
taken lightly
 “Biological Diversity is the key to
the maintenance of the world as
we know it” - Edward Wilson (1992)

Acknowledgements
Wilson, E.O. (1992) The Diversity of Life
W.W. Norton and Company: New York
 Others: JOHN, CHRISTIE, RACHAEL,
CAMERON, AND BARNEY for help
 Also Puja and Nate for the smiles
