Effect of water-condition of high Andean wet pastures of the transitional desert of Chile on some community attributes of their diptero-fauna [Efecto de la condición hídrica de vegas altoandinas del desierto transicional de Chile sobre algunas características comunitarias de su dipterofauna]

Regarding the invertebrates, knowledge about the biota of the Andean peatlands of north-central Chile is clearly asymmetric. In this paper, by using pitfall traps and aerial traps, the diptero-fauna inhabiting three peatlands under different water condition was studied. Of total catch, percent contribution by peatland was as follows: 52.1% (wet peatland); 38.3% (dry peatland), and 9.6% (mesic peatland). The presence of 29 families was recorded, with an estimation of 30 as maximum. Regarding the number of common and exclusive families, small differences between peatlands were recorded. Among peatlands, Muscidae numerically dominated in the dry peatland; Chironomidae and Sphaeroceridae did in the wet peatland; in turn, Muscidae and Chironomidae co-dominated in the mesic one. An effect of water condition of the peatland on the relationships of relative abundance of families was detected. This effect was also observed regarding diversity and evenness. Water is being increasingly scarce in the desert region of Chile. Consequently, peatlands as the studied in this occasion are in a very vulnerable state. This paper provides background showing that not only the larger biotic elements of these landscape units are at risk, but also the smaller ones as well; although not less important for being the base of many food chains and decomposition processes that take place in the arid Andean environment. © 2016, Universidad de Tarapaca. All rights reserved.

The International Tropical Peatlands Center