Composition, species richness and abundance of nocturnal folivorous insects associated with Aristotelia chilensis (maqui) in the fragmented Maulino forest Composición, riqueza de especies y abundancia de insectos defoliadores de actividad nocturna asociad

Abstract

At the Maulino forest, herbivory upon Aristotelia chilensis (maqui) is negatively affected by forest fragmentation, being higher in the continuous forest than in the small remnant fragments, particularly at the beginning of the growing season (spring). This phenomenon may be attributable to changes in the population dynamics of herbivores, mostly insects. In this work, the effect of the Maulino forest fragmentation on the abundance, species richness and composition of nocturnal defoliating insects associated with A. chilensis was evaluated. The insects associated with A. chilensis were sampled monthly, between August 2005 and February 2006, in 32 trees located in a continuous forest (600 ha) and in 32 trees located in eight forest fragments (0.4-20 ha). Insect sampling was carried out during the first five night hours. 890 folivorous insects from 17 families and 77 species of Coleóptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera were collected. All species were native. The total abundance did not var