Resumen

NOVOA S, Sidney; CASTRO C., Viviana; CERONI S, Aldo  y  REDOLFI P, Inés. Relación entre la hormiga camponotus sp. (hymenoptera: formicidae) y una comunidad de cactus (cactaceae) en el valle del Río Chillón. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2003, vol.2, n.1, pp.69-73. ISSN 1726-2216.

Observations were made in an arid ecosystem in the Chillón River Valley, in Lima - Perú, on July 2003.The relation of the cacti community with the Camponotus sp. ant was determined in four 15 x 15 meters quadrants. The richness of the cacti species was S = 8 and it was found out that the ant forages only in the outside of the Neoraimondia arequipensis ssp. roseiflora bottom flowers. The results suggest that the ant acts as a bioindicator of the presence of external flower nectarines as the successful gaster pressure test conducted in the collected liquid content indicated. A highly significant correlation using the Pearson coefficient, between the number of bottom flowers in N. arequipensis and the foraging ants was obtained. These results on preliminary observations of the Lima’s Cactaceae Sub Proyect are very important in this ecosystem with limited biotic elements and extreme abiotic variables. It is an interesting tool for gaining knowledge and for the comprehension of complex ecosystems.

Palabras clave : Cacti; ant; interaction; desert.

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