Epigean coleopteran taxocoenoses of the relict forest of Fray Jorge, Chile

Abstract

Epigean coleopteran taxocoenoses of the relict forest of Fray Jorge, Chile?. In this work a study is made on the individuality of the relict forest at Fray Jorge National Park; its independence from the surrounding types of vegetation, including the regional climax situation; and its biogeographical links with the Valdivian forest from which it could have derived. lts individuality and independence are shown through similarity criteria (i.s.: Jaccard, Winer and Horn indexes), as well as fidelity, relative abundance relations, time-space constancies and temporal schemes of specific diversity (Shannon index). It is concluded that the hypothesis stating the individuality and independence of the forest is true. Also, a consideration is made in relation to the epigean Coleoptera as having a paleantartic origin, corresponding to the one presently existing in Central Chile, with scarece direct actual links with the valdivian forests.