Mesofaunal arthropod diversity in shrub mangrove litter of Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, México

We studied the mesofaunal arthropod diversity in a shrub mangrove in the Punta Sur area within the National Park Reefs of Cozumel Island in the South of Mexico. Two mangrove areas were selected for sampling, dominated by Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia nitida, respectively. Four sampling periods, two during the dry season and two during the rainy season, and 25 random litter samples of litter (225 cm2) per site and date led to a total of 200 samples. Spatial and temporal variation of arthropod diversity was analyzed at the order/suborder level. A total of 90,680 arthropods belonging to 30 taxa were recorded during the study, Oribatida being most abundant with 61.8%, followed by springtails (14%). Densities of arthropods were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season, showing a strong positive correlation with humidity. Highest abundance was found in the R. mangle mangrove in the rainy season, and highest diversity was found in the A. nitida mangrove in the dry season. Seasonal distribution of litter fauna in two mangroves are related with the particular characteristics shown in each one.