collembola associated with tillandsia violacea (bromeliaceae) in mexican quercus-abies forests

Abstract

The results of the study of the Collembola living in the epiphytic Tillandsia violacea at the National Park "El Chico", Central Mexico, during the rainy season of 1998 are presented. A total of 120 epiphytic plants were collected from Abies religiosa and Quercus spp. at two different elevations and processed in Berlese-Tullgren funnels for 15 days. The Collembola were isolated, quantified and mounted in Hoyer's solution. 22,421 Collembola of 23 species were obtained which represented 50% of all arthropods found. Sminthurinus guadrimaculatus was the most abundant representing 64% of all the Collembola

followed by Schottella distincta (17%) and Sphaeridia gr. brevipila (8%). The multiple analysis of variance shows that altitude does not have a significant effect on Collembola abundance (F=2.41

df= 1,103

p>0.05), but it clearly does on the community composition. Supporting tree and plant size have a significant effect on Collembola abundance. There was a positive correlation between the physical and chemical parameters (pH, conductivity, sodium, potassium, calcium and dissolved C) of the water and soil from Tillandsia violacea with the abundance of the Collembola.