Armando Equihua Martínez

Diversidad y Fenología de los Ortópteros del Parque Nacional El Cimatario, Querétaro

Abstract. The abundance and species richness of Orthoptera fluctuate throughout time. The dynamics of species abundance can be influenced by seasonal climatic factors. Here we report the species richness, and nymph and adult abundance of Orthoptera species, throughout a year of sampling at Parque Nacional El Cimatario, Querétaro state, in México. These three phenologic variables (species richness, nymph and adult abundance), using non-parametric analyzes were related to the monthly temperature and relative humidity averages, and with the monthly total precipitation recorded during the sampling year. We tested the immediate effects of climatic factors, and their delay from the phenologic variables of one, two, and three months. Moreover, we determined diverse groups of species with similar adult and nymph phenology. A total of 38 species from 31 genera was found. Seventy-nine percent of the species belonged to the Caelifera suborder. The most abundant species was Dichopetala n. sp. “cercus I teuriformis” (Phaneropterinae), followed by Phoetaliotes nebrascensis (Melanoplinae), Dichopetala serrifera, Schistocerca cohni (Cyrthacantacridinae), and Amblytropidia mysteca (Gomphocerinae). We found some correlations between the species, the nymph and the adult numbers with the climatic factors without and with delay from one to three months. Among a selection of the 18 most abundant species, we found diverse phenologic groups of species in the sampled year. This study contributes to the knowledge of the Orthoptera diversity of Querétaro and its relation with climate.

Construction, commissioning and first results of the Spanish Stellarator TJ-II

The Spanish Stellarator TJ-II is a highly flexible medium-size fusion device of the heliac-type constructed at CIEMAT in Madrid, Spain from 1991 to 1997. The magnetic field mapping at low magnetic fields were conducted through in December 1996 and January 1997 with excellent results. From January 1997 up to now the commissioning of the device up to the design values is being done together with the assembly of the basic diagnostic equipment and the auxiliary heating systems. The first plasma is expected still for October 1997.