Macrofauna edáfica em uma área de cerrado sob pastejo bovino

Abstract

Agriculture is an activity that significantly impacts the soil and its degradation is one of the main impacts caused. In pasture environments, the evaluationof soil fauna has been an important toolin the analysis of soil quality. However, studies carried out in the Cerrado biome with an approach to these organisms are still incipient. In view of this, the present study aimed to compare the macrofauna community inan area under cattle grazing and a non-grazed area inserted in the Cerrado biome. The study was carried out at the Fazenda experimental Paulo Simão in Povoado Ingá, located in the municipality of Caxias-MA. The ascension of the areas was carried out in the months of april/2022 (rainy period) and october/2022 (dry period). For that, two contiguous areas of pastures sampled by Provid and Pitfall traps were used. The collected specimens were sorted, assembled, counted and identified at the order level at the Soil Fauna Laboratory (LAFS) of the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, campus Caxias. The obtained data were examined through faunistic analysis. Analyzes of estimated richness, Shannon - Weaner diversity index (H'), Pielou evenness (e) and Margalef richness were performed using the R program. A total of 10,048 specimens distributed in 15 orders were collected and identified. The orders with the highest number of records were: Hymenoptera with 5,801 individuals, Blattodea with 2,486 individuals, Dipterawith 851 individuals, Araneae with 445 individuals and Coleoptera with 272 individuals. Precipitation influenced the distribution of organisms, which was evidenced in area II. The highest values for the Shannon (H') and Pielou Equitability (J) indices were recorded during the rainy season. The richness observed between the types of traps used and the sampling periodin each area. The cumulative curve of orders for areas I and II in dry and rainy periods reached the asymptote indicating sampling sufficiency.