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Improving Orthoptera knowledge in north arid Argentine Patagonia

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Abstract

Orthopterans are among the most abundant insects in extra-Andean Patagonia. However, despite their ecological and economic importance, their knowledge there is scarce. The objective of this work was to estimate the taxonomic composition and trophic structure of the Orthoptera communities in arid and semi-arid regions of the Chubut province, located in Argentine Patagonia. Samplings were carried out with pitfall traps considering the main climatic and environmental gradient. The composition and community structure were inspected using rank-abundance curves. The variation among trophic guilds abundances was analyzed using generalized linear models. Seventeen species of orthopteran (seven families) were collected. The most abundant families were Mogoplistidae and Acrididae, while Microgryllus pallipes (Philippi, 1863) (Mogoplistidae) was the most common species. The community structure was best-described by the Mandelbrot model, determined by few high-abundance species and several low-abundance species. Omnivorous and herbivorous species were collected in similar proportions, so the trophic community structure was balanced. We also obtained the first records of six species for the Chubut province, including a new record for Argentina and the first records of the Mogoplistidae and Rhaphidophoridae families for this province. This work represents a valuable contribution to the knowledge of Orthoptera and to the improvement of future conservation strategies.

Implications for insect conservation

This work makes valuable contributions to the knowledge of Orthoptera in arid Patagonia, which can improve the current conservation strategies of these fragile ecosystems and the services they provide.

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Data availability

For questions about the dataset used contact to corresponding author. All the entomological material collected was deposited in the Entomological Collection of IPEEC (CCT CENPAT-CONICET), which is public. For questions about the entomological material contact the curator of the Entomological Collection of IPEEC.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CCT CENPAT-CONICET); professional taxonomists who collaborated with the taxonomic determinations (H. Braun, J. Pizarro-Araya), and all field and laboratory assistants (F. Martínez, P. Dellapé, G. Pazos, D. Podestá, F. Brusa, N. Martínez Román). We thank Alejandra Bueno for her language assistance. We are grateful to Secretaría de Turismo y Áreas Naturales Protegidas and Secretaría de Fauna of the Chubut province for providing collecting permissions.

Funding

This study was financed by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PUE-IPEEC-CONICET N° 22920160100044) and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2012–2660).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CENPAT-CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Lucas Emanuel Castelli & Germán Horacio Cheli

  2. Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable (UNICEN–CIC), Tandil, Argentina

    Yanina Mariottini

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  1. Lucas Emanuel Castelli
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  3. Germán Horacio Cheli
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Contributions

GHC carried out the sampling design and the capture of orthopterans. LEC and YM carried out the taxonomic determination of the specimens. LEC and GHC conducted the data analysis. All authors wrote the original draft, reviewed and edited the document and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Germán Horacio Cheli.

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Castelli, L.E., Mariottini, Y. & Cheli, G.H. Improving Orthoptera knowledge in north arid Argentine Patagonia. J Insect Conserv 27, 759–766 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-023-00495-7

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