Xylophagous insects and their incidence in the death of mangroves in Barra Salada of the Protected Natural Area “Los Cóbanos”, Sonsonate and Bahía de Jiquilisco, Usulután, El Salvador
Keywords:
Mangrove, Death mangrove, Xylophagous, Barra Salada and Bahia JiquiliscoAbstract
This research has been developed in Barra Salada, in the Natural Protected Area the Cóbanos, Sonsonate and Bahia Jiquilisco, Usulután, El Salvador, with the purpose of determining the cause of death of mangrove, reported in local people and according to reports from the Ministry of Environment. The study was carried out during the August 2012- June 2014 period. Firstly, we conducted a literature review and, in the meanwhile, we established contact with the corresponding government agencies and community development associations in order to obtain permission to access to the study areas. Secondly, the field study was started, which was implemented not only in rainy season but also in dry season. This phase of the study consisted in collecting samples of insects and making environmental variable data establishing working areas of 200m2 in every longitudinal transects, geographically referencing and quantifying the damaged areas. To complement the research and in order to verify the method used by other researchers, although adapted to the mangrove, 5 multidirectional air traps were installed for each transect, using ethanol 70% as attractant. Insects collected during sampling were preserved in ethyl alcohol, except for those specimens which differ in their method of preservation. All of this with the purpose of classifying the samples on the basis of order, family and genus or species (when possible) and thus differentiate among xylophagous insects and insects associated with mangroves. All the information collected was later compiled into two entomological boxes and an illustrated guide. As a result of the analysis, 13 xylophagous families and 24 performing different ecological roles were identified. In terms of diversity, a greater number of xylophagous specimens were found during the rainy season compared to the dry season. However, using the Kendall’s coefficient to establish the abundance of xylophagous insects versus non xylophagous, this did not result significantly different to 0 (Kendall’s tau = -0.04926168, P = 0.8028). In conclusion, based on their eating habits, insect communities differ, emphasizing that the specimens collected are mostly insects which usually attack weak and stressed trees. This proves that mangrove death is not directly caused by the action of these specimens.
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