The Leaf-Litter Arthropods of Mesoamerica (LLAMA) Project: results for Guatemala

The Leaf-Litter Arthropods of MesoAmerica (LLAMA) project aims to discover new species of ants and weevils and to measure patterns of beta diversity throughout the Mesoamerican corridor. The first two years have focused on southern Mexico and Guatemala. We report here the activities of the 2009 field sampling in Guatemala and summarize preliminary results. New taxa continue to accrue and biogeographic patterns are emerging. The field experience is one of traveling through large areas of human-altered habitat to reach island-like patches of remaining intact forest, underscoring the continued need for habitat conservation efforts in this region.