title: Functional and Taxonomic Diversity of Stinging Wasps in Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest Areas.
abstract: Vespoidea are the most functionally diverse superfamily of Hymenoptera. Ecological studies involving this family are primarily based on eusocial groups, including ants and social paper wasps. In the present study, we examine stinging wasp (Vespoidea) faunal diversity in the Atlantic Rain Forest, which is one of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems in the World. Three conservation areas were sampled employing a standardized sample protocol. Families and functional groups of Vespoidea were collected in each area, with the exception ants (Formicidae), and analyzed using diversity analyses, to generate taxonomic diversity and distinctness indices. Results indicated Pompilidae was the most diverse family, and the idiobiont parasitoid type was the most diverse functional group in the three study areas. Núcleo Picinguaba of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar was taxonomically and functionally the most diverse and species rich area. Parque Estadual Intervales showed the highest number of dominant species and diversity of koinobiont parasitoids, while the Rebio Sooretama exhibited a decrease in several diversity parameters.
authors.affiliation: Fac de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Univ de São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Bairro Monte Alegre, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. efs.wasp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Depto de Zoologia e Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Univ Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.affiliation: Museu de Zoologia, Univ de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: C R F
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brandão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D017753:Ecosystem; D065947:Rainforest; D014863:Wasps
keywords: Cleptoparasitoid; Pompilidae; Tiphiidae; Vespidae; parasitoid; predator