Artropodofauna de los Bosques de Polylepis (Rosaceae) de la Zona de Conchucos, Ancash

This study of the diversity of the arthropodofauna of twelve Polylepis forests in the Department of Ancash (Tacarpo Gague, Pacchac, Yanacocha, Pumahuain, Checacmonte, Canrash, Juproc, Pachapaqui, Huinco, Jupaimarca and Huamanhueque) reports a total of 19 orders and 62 families of terrestrial arthropods in the evaluated forests. The widely representative orders are the orders Diptera and Collembola. Species of the families Dytiscidae (Rhantus), Elmidae (Stenelmis), Psephenidae, Cucujidae, Dascillidae (Order Coleoptera); Notonemouridae (Neonemoura) (Order Plecoptera); Baetidae (Baetis, Cloeodes), Leptophlebiidae (Thraulodes) (Order Ephemeroptera); Limnephilidae (Anomalocosmoecus), Helicopsychidae (Helicopsyche), Hydropsychidae (Cailloma) (Order Trichoptera); and Corixidae (Order Hemiptera) represent new reports of entomofauna in Polylepis forests; as well as in Ancash and at the country level.  The methodology included the use of Malaise traps, pitfall traps, light traps, beating, direct sampling and, in the case of aquatic entomofauna, water bottom sweeps. Diversity indices indicate that the most diverse forest in terms of families of terrestrial arthropods is the Huinco forest with a diversity index of 2.66 and uniformity of 74.24%, and the least diverse forest is Canrash with a diversity index of 0.98 and uniformity of 26.73%. Both forests do not reach a percentage greater than 70% and 80% of similarity, respectively, with the other evaluated forests. From the review of the benthic arthropodofauna and based on the taxa found where the groups Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera can be observed, as well as representatives of the order Plecoptera and the two families of aquatic Coleoptera (Elmidae and Psephenidae), all with known characteristics of low tolerance to foreign agents in their environment, it could be concluded that although the study areas are under anthropogenic pressure, this has not altered the bodies of water with the introduction of synthetic agents or excess organic matter. In addition, the fact that groups such as trichopteros, elmids and ephemeroptera require water with a high degree of oxygenation and rapid current would indicate that these bodies of water have not yet been affected significantly in proportion to the reduction of Polylepis forests.