Christopher Cheleuitte-Nieves1, Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman2, Alonso Ramírez1, Alberto Puente1, José Fumero1, Vanessa Rodríguez1, Paulina Calle1, Alberto Galindo1, Katherine Svensson1, Edgar Hernández1, Paola Olaya1, Manuel Figueroa1, Denny S. Fernández3, Ariel Díaz3, and Miguel García4. (1) University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras and Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CREST-CATEC), (2) University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CREST-CATEC), and ITES, (3) University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, (4) Natural Resources Department
Mona Island is a karstic island platform with dry forest vegetation located between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Its biota includes exotic species (e.g. goats and pigs) that may threaten native organisms. Understanding the potential effects of these exotic species requires good knowledge of the current biodiversity status. While this has been done extensive for plant and vertebrate species, this knowledge is not as extensive for arthropods and how these communities may vary among different vegetation types. Here we present preliminary results of a study that tested for spatial differences in arthropod communities as a function of known vegetation types on the island. In particular we examined the level of arthropod heterogeneity within and between two areas denominated as depression forests (Indios and Cerezos) and one area denominated as plateau forest (Plataforma). Depression forests occur in sinkholes across the island platform and allow for more soil accumulation and supports taller vegetation relative to plateau forest sites which develop on rocky shallow soils. Arthropod biodiversity was monitored using malaise and pitfall traps located on fixed points along permanent transects at each forest site. Each point contained one malaise and 4 pitfall traps that remained open during May, 2004. Each fixed point has accompanying data on vegetation characteristics (composition, canopy cover) as well as microclimate variables (i.e. relative humidity and temperature, ISF). Collected insects were sorted and classified into order and family and morphospecies whenever possible. Preliminary results show high variability in abundance and composition within and among sites. Depression forest sites were not necessarily similar to each other in relation to the platform forest site. Here we discuss results for differences in abundance and biodiversity within and among sites.
