Diversity of Millipedes (Diplopoda) and centipedes (Chilopoda) from Tlalpan Forest, Mexico City

Abstract

The knowledge of the millipedes and centipedes is scarce for Mexico, despite its ecological relevance; in Mexico City, and before this study, the current number of species of millipedes and centipedes were 14 and 17 respectively. In the present work the diversity of both groups was evaluated in the Protected Natural Area Bosque de Tlalpan. The study was carried out for a period of eight months, from February to September 2022, two collection methods were implemented, direct sampling and soil and leaf litter samples. Diversity was evaluated using Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index. Sampling efficiency was analyzed through species accumulation curves, using ICE, Chao 2 and Jacknife 1 estimators. Nine species were recorded, six of the Diplopoda class and three of the Chilopoda Class; for the first time, three species and two genera of millipedes were recorded for Mexico City. The diversity within the study area was considered low (H´= 1.55) with the dominance of some species (J´= 0.70). Sampling efficiency exceeded 91 % in all estimators, indicating that obtained richness was close to the expected. The number of millipede species recorded in Mexico City increased from 14 to 19.