Diversity of canopy dwelling planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) in Terre Firme forests of Amazonian Ecuador

Planthoppers of the canopy of Terre Firme forests in the Ecuadorian Amazon (Orellana province) are being investigated. The total collection encompasses approximately 16,000 specimens. Samples were collected by canopy fogging at 2 localities (Tiputini Biodiversity Station and Reserva Etnica Waorani) in 3 seasons (wet, transitional, and dry) between 1994 and 2006. Samples have been sorted to morphospecies and tallied to develop a species-by-sample abundance matrix. Alpha diversity statistics were generated using EstimateS and faunal turnover was evaluated using Analysis of Similarity. This information will allow for estimations of the total diversity of fulgoroids in the canopies of Terre Firme forests.