Microclimate niche requirements of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) in a successional gradient of low thorn forest in northeastern Mexico

Disturbance caused by loss of vegetal cover modifies interactions between abiotic environment and species, including phytophagous insects such as leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera). Furthermore, secondary succession changes both resource availability and microclimatic conditions after disturbance, thus influencing species niche requirements. However, despite this importance, effects of such modifications on phytophagous insects remain almost unknown. Therefore, in this study we compared microclimatic niche parameters of leaf beetle communities in a successional gradient of low thorn forest in northeastern Mexico. A chronosequence of four categories with different succession time was delimited (conserved areas, 31, 17 and 4 years) through the analysis of Landsat satellite images (1973, 1986, 2000, 2005 and 2015). In each category, we systematically sampled leaf beetles (using sweep nets) and recorded seven microclimatic variables monthly, during the wet season of 2016 (May–October). In total, 66 species of Chrysomelidae were found, distributed in the four successional categories. Association between communities and microclimatic variables, as well as the number of species significantly related with these changes, decreased with successional time. Relative humidity, temperature and heat index were variables mainly related to these changes, and their specific contributions changed with time. Results suggest that microclimate influences the structuration of the phytophagous insect community after disturbance, but only in areas of recent succession; thus, other factors are operating in conserved areas. Therefore, secondary vegetation areas of different recovery time constitute unique microclimate niches for leaf beetle species, and as such, these need to be accounted for when delimiting conservation areas.