Composición y estructura del ensamble de tenebriónidos epigeos (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) de ecosistemas continentales e insulares del desierto costero transicional de Chile

Pitfall traps were used to study the taxonomic composition, richness, abundance, and spatio-temporal structure of the assemblage of epigean tenebrionids in continental and insular habitats of the transitional coastal desert of Chile. Samplings were conducted on the coastal area of Punta de Choros and in the Archipelago Los Choros in 2005 and 2006. A total of 982 specimens were captured, belonging to 7 tribes, 9 genera, and 17 species. The most diverse genera were Praocis Eschscholtz and Gyriosomus Guérin-Méneville. The Anosim analysis showed statistically-significant differences between seasons (R = 0.31; p = .01) but not among habitats (R = 0.1872; p = .12), although the effect of these factors was low. The highest richness and diversity was observed in the interior coastal steppe and the coastal steppe of Los Choros, whereas the highest abundance occurred in the interior coastal steppe (26.5%). Seasonal structure was not observed; however, the data showed increased abundance in spring both in the continent and on the islands, with the exception of Choros island, where the highest abundance occurred in winter. This paper discusses the differences in the soil and plant characteristics of the ecosystems under study.