Abstract

ARANGO, Liliana  and  MONTES-R, José Mauricio. PARTIAL ENTOMOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LA MIEL RIVER BASIN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CALDAS (COLOMBIA). Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2009, vol.13, n.2, pp.249-268. ISSN 0123-3068.

Human activity has notably decreased the rain forests in the La Miel River Basin located in the department of Caldas. Therefore, biological studies should be carried out in order to prioritize the conservation efforts within the classification plan and environmental management of the area. In regards to the latter, this research was carried out with the objective of characterizing butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperoidea, Papilionoidea), dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae), and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in 3 forest areas of the basin proposed for conservation, 2 of them located in Pensilvania (Berlin and La Cabaña at an altitude of 2750 and 2600 masl respectively) and the third located in Norcasia (Rio Manso natural reserve at 160 masl). The results showed that Rio Manso, La Cabaña and Berlin should be considered strategic places for the conservation of biodiversity in the La Miel River Basin, due to several factors: 1) the low values of similarity among the 3 sites demonstrate an abundant difference of species, 2) few fragments of similar size are found in the river basin, 3) these fragments are located at different altitudes, 4) the existence of records that extend the geographic distribution of some species. These localities and part of the fauna that they support could be unique within the region, and actions for their conservation must be taken on time.

Keywords : Biodiversity; bioindicators; Coleoptra; Lepidoptera; Hymenoptera; conservation.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )