Soil Macrofauna as a Soil Quality Indicator in Native and replanted Araucaria angustifolia Forests

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Studies on soil quality in Araucaria forests contribute to understanding changes in this ecosystem and serve as a tool in conserving its biodiversity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of soil macrofauna in discriminating native and replanted Araucaria forests for selection of soil quality indicators. Native (NF) and replanted (RF) Araucaria angustifolia forests were evaluated in three regions of the state of São Paulo, representing three true replications. Fifteen soil samples were collected in each area for evaluation of the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties and the macrofauna through use of monolith excavation and the manual screening method [Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) method]. In addition, we evaluated the weight of the surface litter dry matter and the C, N, and S contents. The abundance of macrofauna was subjected to Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties were used as explanatory environmental variables for changes in the soil community. These variables and the macrofaunal properties were applied in analyses of variance and in canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) to indicate the best properties for discrimination of the forests studied. The abundance of macrofaunal groups was influenced by the state of conservation of the forest and by the sampling period; the native forest and the summer season provided greater diversity of taxonomic groups. The richness of taxonomic groups was the property that most contributes to discriminating reforested areas from native forests. The Oligochaeta group was a prominent indicator of soil quality and/or environmental disruption in Araucaria forests. Soil moisture, total porosity, and S content in the surface litter were likewise variables that contributed to distinguishing the areas. The ecological indexes (diversity, dominance, and equitability) were not sensitive to the changes in macrofaunal properties in the forests studied.

Soil Health and Arthropods: From Complex System to Worthwhile Investigation

“…Some authors proposed indices based on high taxonomic level (order, family, and in some cases class), or based on more systematic taxa [10], applying several ecological indexes [165]. Cortet et al [166] compared two crop systems which differed for tillage and pesticides application, and applied AV biodiversity index, considering microarthropod taxa separated in oribatid mites, other mites, collembolas, and other arthropods.…”

Fauna do solo associada a diferentes sistemas de cultivo

“…As áreas P, SAF, CC e VN foram estatisticamente semelhantes entre si e superiores em relação aos demais sistemas (CO, MG e MM). Estes resultados corroboram, em partes, com os obtidos por outros autores (Lima et al, 2010;Guimarães et al, 2015;Pereira et al, 2017;D. C. Silva et al, 2020) que, ao avaliarem a fauna edáfica em diferentes sistemas de uso do solo, observaram maiores abundâncias de organismos em áreas com maior diversidade vegetal (mata nativa e SAF).…”

Fauna epiedáfica associada a fragmentos florestais de Araucaria angustifolia em diferentes condições edafoclimáticas no estado do Paraná

“…Desta forma, alguns trabalhos desenvolvidos por Baretta et al (2008), Branchere Roza-Gomes (2012), Pereira et al (2017), Silva et al (2019), Pereira et al (2020a), Demetrio et al (2020b), são voltados ao estudo da fauna de solo em áreas de conservação de floretas com araucária buscando entender os processos ecológicos ocorrentes nos solos deste habitat. No entanto, apesar da grande diversidade de organismos edáficos, estudos ecológicos sobre sua associação a este ecossistema florestal são escassos principalmente no estado do Paraná.…”