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Vol. 48 No. 3, 2009
Analyzing Insect Community Structure through the Application of Taxonomic Distinctness Measures
Laura Baños-Picón*, Josep D. Asís, Severiano F. Gayubo, and José Tormos
Área de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca 37071, Spain
Laura Baños-Picón, Josep D. Asís, Severiano F. Gayubo, and José Tormos (2009) Taxonomic
distinctness measures were initially developed as a way to assess
aspects related to taxonomic and functional differences among species
forming communities which are not usually taken into account in
biodiversity analyses. In the present work, a comparative
analysis aimed at evaluating the behavior and properties of these
indices was performed, using communities of Spheciform wasps from
different zones of the Iberian Peninsula. Samples were obtained
using 2 different sampling techniques: malaise traps and hand
nets. By analyzing the behavior of different classic indices of
diversity and the taxonomic distinctness measures (average taxonomic
distinctness ( ∆ +) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Λ+)), it
was found that the 2 methods of capture did not seem to provide the
same type of information regarding the community structure, i.e., the
use of hand nets revealed greater phylogenetic variability, while
specimens captured with malaise traps were more uniform.
Communities belonging to different biotopes, which had not experienced
perturbation, were compared. Indices proved to be robust in terms
of changes. Likewise, when assessing their independence with
respect to sample size, both indices reached similar mean values, even
though their sampling sizes showed noteworthy differences. Mean
values of ∆ + and Λ+ of the communities analyzed in the study did not
significantly differ with those obtained by a simulation, regardless of
the type of habitat or sample size; this is consistent with the good
state of the communities analyzed. Only the sampling method
employed seems to influence ∆+. However, the classic estimators
of diversity (richness and heterogeneity indices) were affected by the
sample size and, to a lesser degree, by the type of sampling method
used. Although their ecological interpretation remains unclear,
taxonomic distinctness measures can offer a useful tool for studying
and comparing insect communities.
Key words: Taxonomic distinctness, Wasp community, Malaise traps, Sampling methods, Spheciform wasps.
*Correspondence: Tel: 34-9-23294500 ext. 1847. Fax: 34-9-23294515. E-mail:lbanos@usal.es
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