Functional composition and seasonalityins of soil macrofauna in different soil uses, Cerrado Biome, Brazil

Abstract

The edaphic macrofauna is represented by invertebrate organisms that occupy the soil and can be distributed in functional groups that realize specific functions in the environments. The objective of this study was to analyze the functional composition of the edaphic macrofauna and seasonalityins of the Cerrado biome in different uses of the soil. The research was carried out in environments that combine natural characteristics (Cerradão and Mata dos Cocais) and forest formations that suffered anthropic disturbances (Cut and Burn, Eucalyptus and Pasture), in Chapadinha, Brazil. The edaphic invertebrates were collected in the rainy period and in the dry period, and identified at the level of order and/or family. Was found 2149 individuals from the edaphic macrofauna, belonging to 16 taxonomic groups, distributed in five functional groups: ecosystem engineers, saprophages, predators, omnivores and phytophages; predators gathered the largest number of táxons. Was observed the beta diversity of the edaphic macrofauna partitioned in substitution (betasim) and nesting (betasne) as in natural as anthropic environments. Observed that all substitution values were greater than nesting values in all environments and periods. The PERMANOVA test found significant changes in the composition of the functional groups of the edaphic macrofauna for the interaction of the factors: seasonal period and environment. Superposition was observed between environments and in axes 1 and 2 of the NMDS involving the five functional groups. It is concluded that the functional groups of the edaphic macrofauna (ecosystem engineers, saprophages, predators, omnivores, phytophages) perform activities that regulate many physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in the soil of the Cerrado biome, in addition to promoting their balance and usual operation.