Comparison of Hymenopterans of Three Forest Types in Morro do Diabo, Sao Paulo State, Brazil Crystal Begin Brazilian Atlantic Forest SEE-U 2000

Introduction n Conservation of Biodiversity is a relatively new approach within conservation biology n In the past the focus has been the “keystone” species n However the true value of the ecosystem lies with its biodiversity

Introduction (cont’d) n Biodiversity is important! –Variation among genes –Variation among species –Provides us with Biological Wealth

Introduction (cont’d) n 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) n 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! n Basic Methods include: –Transfer of Knowledge –Agroforestry

Objective n 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 n 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 n Alternate: The Natural Forest will have the highest species richness and abundance

Description Of Sites Semi - Deciduous Forest

Methodology n 3 Pan Traps placed at each site n Remained at each site for the duration of one week n After being retrieved Hymenopterans were sorted on the basis of morphology and classified to the best capability of an amateur entomologist n Diversity Indices and Community Similarity were determined with use of Quantran

Results n Three primary groups of Hymenopterans present: Ants, Wasps, and those of the suborder Symphyta n Morphospecies of the Family Formicidae were the most abundant at all three sites n The majority of the remaining morphospecies are represented only by one individual

Diversity Indices of all three sites obtained by Quantran

Comparison of Community Similarity between the Three Sites of Morro do Diabo

Discussion n 103,000 known species of Hymenopterans –Diversity of this group is evident even at Morro do Diabo n 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) n Shannon and Simpson Indices suggest the following order: –Natural Forest > Pine Monoculture > Guava n Similarity was only present between the two disturbed sites n Lack of similarity to natural forest supports the idea of high diversity in the natural forest

Conclusion n 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 n Rejection of Hypothesis 1 n Acceptance of Hypothesis 2: However it did not have the highest abundance, as most morphospecies represented by one individual

Conclusions n Guava and Pine sites low diversity: –If these sites were able to continue through community development: Biodiversity could increase n Results suggest the importance in maintaining and conserving the ecosystem in its “original” state

Conclusions n “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” n Edward Wilson (1992)

Conclusions n Morro do diabo is essential –because human pressures on the earth’s resources are increasing with the increasing growth rate n Biodiversity is not a concept that can be taken lightly n “Biological Diversity is the key to the maintenance of the world as we know it” - Edward Wilson (1992)

Acknowledgements n Wilson, E.O. (1992) The Diversity of Life W.W. Norton and Company: New York n Others: JOHN, CHRISTIE, RACHAEL, CAMERON, AND BARNEY for help n Also Puja and Nate for the smiles