Pseudoscorpiones (Arachnida) as indicators in mangrove forest fragments from Córdoba, Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

ABSTRACT The mangrove ecosystems are characterized by being one of the most productive, despite their poor soils, finding a great faunal richness. Meanwhile, pseudoscorpions are arachnids that inhabit all terrestrial ecosystems, and diverse in the tropics and subtropics. We evaluated the relationship of pseudoscorpions composition in mangrove forest fragments in the southern Gulf of Morrosquillo, using different metrics related to vegetation and land use. A total of 1063 individuals were collected, distributed in four families and eight species. Three indicator species of good conservation status were identified, Pachyolpium isolatum (Beier, 1931) a good indicator (A = 1.0; B = 0.93; p <0.001), and four detecting species of disturbed mangroves. The proximity to urban and tourist areas influences the composition of the community of the pseudoscorpion. The indicator capacity and the sensitivity demonstrated by the species make them a valuable argument and are considered as a tool that can indicate promptly the negative effects of certain management practices in the different mangrove forest fragments in the southern Gulf of Morrosquillo.

Keywords

• Bioindicator
• conservation
• ecology
• microhabitat
• San Antero