Terrestrial invertebrates in environmental assessments: A decade of environmental impact studies in the influence area of the Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Abstract

Invertebrates constitute a megadiverse animal group and abundant in virtually every terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, performing functions and providing services indispensable to the environment. In this paper, we evaluated how terrestrial invertebrates were treated in the Environmental Impact Assessments submitted to the environmental agency in Rio de Janeiro, state fully inserted at Atlantic Rainforest biome. We analyzed environmental studies developed by companies with new industrial projects presenting potential environmental impact in the period of 2008 to 2018. Only ten (14%) studies considered terrestrial invertebrates in the biotic diagnostic assessments of fauna. Arthropoda was the only one Phylum considered as terrestrial invertebrates in the studies analyzed, with Class Insecta present in all of them, and Arachnida present in two studies. The insects of the Orders Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidopetra, Hemipetra, Orthopetra and Odonata were the most frequent in the studies. The lack of interest in the conservation of terrestrial invertebrates demonstrates the fragility of the public authorities in issues related to biodiversity conservation strategies of these animals and exposes the urgent need for investment in the formation of human resources specialized in biodiversity conservation.