title: Diversity and Resource Use Patterns of Anthophile Insects in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, Mexico.
abstract: Bees and flies are the main pollinators responsible for the maintenance of plant diversity and crop production. Studies of pollinator communities have focused on bees; however, community structures may vary among groups of pollinators. We describe and compare the diversity and resource use patterns of six Apoidea and two Diptera anthophile families in Cuatro Ciénegas in the northeast of Mexico. We sampled insects in two distinct geographic units (valley and mountains) and two seasons (rainy and dry). Spatial and temporal patterns in species composition and abundance of these families were identified and the diversity in each family compared. The spatial and temporal patterns in species composition, diversity, and resource use were different for each family. Overall, diversity was higher during the rainy season. Only fly families and the Andrenidae presented season-specific differences in species composition, in contrast with the other Apoidea. Two bee families visited more plant species per insect species during the rainy season, whereas flies visited the same number of plant species in both seasons. Apidae, Megachilidae, and Bombyliidae visited more plant species in the mountains, while the other families exhibited no differences between the mountains and the valley. The variation in the community structures of each group may reflect distinct life histories, resources needs during larval stages, and foraging behaviors. These differences are relevant in management and conservation programs that could benefit one group of pollinators while harming others with different characteristics. The traits of some families indicate their potential value as pollinators.
authors.affiliation: Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito de Posgrados, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico 04510 (omaravalosh@ciencias.unam.mx) omaravalosh@ciencias.unam.mx.|Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico 04510 (zcs@ciencias.unam.mx).|Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico 04510 (marysol_trujano@yahoo.com.mx).
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ávalos-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico 04510 (zcs@ciencias.unam.mx).
authors.forename: Zenón
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cano-Santana
authors.affiliation: Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico 04510 (marysol_trujano@yahoo.com.mx).
authors.forename: Marysol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trujano-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Batalla 5 de Mayo s/n, Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México 09230 (urigarcia@gmail.com).
authors.forename: Uri Omar
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: García-Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D008800:Mexico; D054817:Pollination; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Apoidea; Bombyliidae; Syrphidae; desert fauna; pollinator community structure