%0 Journal Article
%T Diversity of the Epigean Entomofauna in Southern Santa Fe Province, Argentina
%A Natacha María Noelia Schanzempch
%A Pablo Guillermo Rimoldi
%J Entomology and Applied Science Letters
%@ 2349-2864
%D 2023
%V 10
%N 4
%R 10.51847/vmeMGxgwIg
%P 1-12
%X Biodiversity protection is crucial due to the impact of human activities on ecosystems. Anthropogenic activities, such as the advance of the agricultural frontier, deforestation, and the introduction of exotic species, are the main drivers of changes in biodiversity. Entomofauna, especially insects, play a vital role in ecosystem indicators of environmental quality and contribute to key functions such as pollination and decomposition. The present research focuses on understory entomofauna in the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the National University of Rosario, Argentina. Several samplings were carried out 2022 in five different microsites regarding herbaceous, shrub, and tree vegetation, using pitfall traps to capture arthropods. A total of 2631 individuals of 68 morphospecies belonging to five classes, 15 orders, and 43 families were captured. The Class Insecta was the most diverse and abundant, representing 82.35% of the morphospecies and 35.80% of the total abundance. The Class Malacostraca, although with only two species, was dominant in abundance (58.57%). Microsite diversity showed that microsites 5 and 1 were the most biodiverse. The results revealed low similarity among microsites, indicating the influence of the landscape on entomofaunal composition. This study provides an essential baseline on understory entomofauna in the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. The diversity found highlights the importance of this habitat and the identification of key species such as Armadillidium vulgare and Enthomobryidae sp. in relation to their role in ecosystem services. The research lays the groundwork for future comparative studies and highlights the need to consider biodiversity in conservation and environmental management politics agendas.
%U https://easletters.com/article/diversity-of-the-epigean-entomofauna-in-southern-santa-fe-province-argentina-mcrnve5s61v8waw