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Vol. 50 No. 6, 2011
Effects of Different Frequencies of Fire on an Epigeal Spider Community in Southern Caldenal, Argentina
Gabriel A. Pompozzi1,*, F. Rodrigo Tizón2, and Daniel V. Pelaéz3
1Departamento
de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, San Juan 670, Univ. Nacional del
Sur (UNS) (8000) Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2CERZOS (CONICET), UNS, San Andrés 850, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3Departamento de Agronomía (UNS), CIC, CERZOS (CONICET), Altos del Palihue, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gabriel A. Pompozzi, F. Rodrigo Tizón, and Daniel V. Pelaéz (2011) Fire
contributes to the selection and distribution of plant and animal
species, and for a long time, its effects were considered to be
negative. But recently, its role has been reinterpreted from a
conservation standpoint. Fire, together with other environmental
factors such as temperature and rainfall, affects the diversity and
abundance of arthropods. Spiders comprise a group of potential
ecological indicators, because they are diverse, abundant, and easy to
sample, and they interact with their environment, potentially
reflecting any ecological changes. Our goal was to assess the effects
of controlled fires of different frequencies on the abundance,
diversity, and composition of a community of epigeal spiders in
southern Caldenal, La Pampa, Argentina. We obtained samples in May,
Nov., and Dec. 2006 and Apr. 2007 in an area of approximately 12 ha. We
conducted controlled burns every 3-4 and 6-7 yr since 1991, and used
pitfall traps to collect specimens. Adults (554 spiders) were
collected, and 56 species/morphospecies were recorded. Leprolochus birabeni
Mello-Leitao 1942 (Zodariidae) was clearly the dominant species (19.9%
of the total). We found significant differences in the abundances and
species richness values between sampling months. However, we found no
significant differences in the Shannon-Wiener (H´) diversity index
between burned and unburned areas. The species compositions were
similar in burned and unburned areas.
Key words: Araneae, Epigeic spiders, Controlled burns, South America.
*Correspondence: Tel: 54-0291-4595130. E-mail:gabrielpompozzi@conicet.gov.ar
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