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This study investigates the species richness and abundance of Drosophila Fallén, 1823 attracted to dung and carrion baited pitfall traps in natural areas with heterogeneous habitats at the Sierra de Minas, Eastern Serranías, southeastern Uruguay. Collecting was carried out on a monthly basis (May 2002 through April 2003). Drosophilids accounted for 0.84% (n = 131) and 3.61% (n = 158) of the Diptera collected from dung (n = 15,630) and carrion (n = 4,382) pitfall traps, respectively. A total of 12 species were identified, 11 of which belong to the subgenus Drosophila (the richest) and one to the subgenus Sophophora Sturtevant, 1939. Over 90% of the Drosophila specimens collected belong to five species of the subgenus Drosophila, namely D. gaucha Jaeger & Salzano, 1953, D. immigrans Sturtevant, 1921, D. mediovittata Frota-Pessoa, 1954, D. aff. nappae Vilela, Valente & Basso-da-Silva, 2004, and D. ornatifrons Duda, 1927. Drosophila cardini Sturtevant, 1916 is recorded for the first time from Uruguay. Drosophila abundance and species richness in the four habitats sampled in the Uruguayan Eastern Serranías, namely woodlands sierra, riparian forest, pine plantation and grazing grassland, were considered to be a function of habitat conservation. Diversity indices were low in all habitats. Different habitats supported particular coprophilous and necrophilous Drosophila species. The woodland sierra represents the most preserved habitat, and contributed with the highest species richness observed. Drosophila ornatifrons was the dominant species, with a restricted habitat distribution. On the other hand, grazed grassland, an environment modified by livestock management, had the lowest species richness: only a few specimens of D. repleta Wollaston, 1858. Regarding species composition, significant differences were found in some pairwise comparisons of groups of Drosophila species that included D. ornatifrons. Fly attraction to dung can be exploited as an alternative and/or complementary collecting method in ecological studies of Drosophila assemblages in natural areas

Coprophilous beetles represent an abundant and rich group with critical importance in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Most coprophagous beetles have a stenotopic distribution in relation to vegetation types. Because of this, they are usually very sensitive to environmental changes and are considered well suited as bioindicator organisms. The aim of this study was to analyze variations in coprophilous beetle assemblages in natural and anthropogenic habitats. Coprophilous beetle communities were sampled monthly for 1 year using pitfall traps baited with cow dung, in native xeric upland forests, 15-years-old plantations of Pinus elliottii and pastures in Sierra de Minas, Lavalleja, Uruguay. A total of 7,436 beetles were caught and identified to species or morphospecies level. The most abundant families were Aphodiidae, Scarabaeidae, and Staphylinidae. Differences in species richness, abundance, Shannon index, evenness, and dominance were detected between habitats. Abundances of most frequent families were significantly higher in both kinds of forests. Species richness and diversity of Aphodiidae and Staphylinidae were higher in forests, while Scarabaeidae showed the highest richness and diversity in pine plantations. Species composition significantly differed between habitats. Uroxys terminalis Waterhouse and Ataenius perforatus Harold typified the assemblages in native forests and pine plantations and also discriminated both communities because of their differential pattern of abundance between habitats. Typifying species in pastures were Onthophagus hirculus, Ateuchus robustus (Harold), and Ataenius platensis Blanchard. Habitat type had a strong effect on the coprophilous beetle community structure and composition.

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Remedios et al. Dípteros asociados a cebos de estiércol y carroña en Sierra de Minas (2): 378-390. rEsumEn. Se realizó un estudio preliminar sobre la estructura de los ensambles de dípteros coprófilos y necrófilos a nivel de familias, en un bosque serrano en Sierra de Minas, Uruguay. Asimismo se estableció la variación estacional de dicha estructura para ambos grupos de dípteros. Se realizaron muestreos mensuales durante un año, colocando durante una semana, seis trampas de caída, tres cebadas con estiércol vacuno y tres con hígado vacuno. Se recolectaron 3,142 individuos pertenecientes a 21 familias del Orden Diptera. Se registró por primera vez la familia Heleomyizidae en Uruguay. Las familias con mayor abundancia fueron Phoridae y Sphaeroceridae, representando el 58% del total de ejemplares recolectados. En las trampas con estiércol vacuno predominaron Sphaeroceridae (42%), Cecidomyiidae (14%) y Phoridae (12%). En las necrotrampas la familia más abundante fue Phoridae que representó el 59% del total de individuos, seguida de Drosophilidae (10%). Los dos ensambles presentaron el mismo patrón de variación estacional de la abundancia, con picos en otoño (marzo-abril) y en primavera (octubre-noviembre). La riqueza de familias del ensamble coprófilo fue mayor durante la primavera (octubre a diciembre) y en otoño (abril) mientras que el ensamble necrófilo presentó la mayor riqueza de familias solamente de octubre a noviembre. Este estudio constituye un primer paso en la generación de conocimientos acerca de la composición de las comunidades de dípteros en ambientes nativos en Uruguay. palabras clave: coprotrampa, necrotrampa, Phoridae, Sphaeroceridae, Heleomyzidae, comunidad. remedios, m., m. martínez & p. gonzález-Vainer. 2012. A preliminar study on dipteran associated with dung and carrion baits in a serrania forest in Sierra de Minas, Uruguay. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n. s.), 28(2): 378-390. abstract. A preliminary study on coprophilous and necrophilous Diptera assemblages was done at family level, in a serranía forest in Sierra de Minas, Uruguay. Besides, seasonal structure variations of both assemblages were assessed. Dipterous were sampled monthly during a year, using pitfall traps baited with cow dung and cow liver, which were deployed for a week. A total of 3,142 individuals corresponding to 21 families, were captured. Heleomyzidae was recorded for the first time in Uruguay. The most abundant families were Phoridae and Sphaeroceridae which represented 58% of total number

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