Banca de DEFESA: MARIANE MELO PEREIRA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIANE MELO PEREIRA
DATE: 12/02/2025
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Google Meet
TITLE:

Diversity patterns of epiedaphic Entomobryomorpha (Collembola: Hexapoda) in a vegetation gradient of the Atlantic Forest

KEY WORDS:

Arthropods; Biodiversity; Springtails; Soil fauna; Population fluctuation.

PAGES: 48
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUBÁREA: Ecologia Aplicada
SUMMARY:

Springtails are microarthropods considered to be a basal group of Hexapoda, and are one of the most populous terrestrial taxa on the planet. These organisms are closely related to the edaphic environment and feed on organic matter, forming part of the soil's nutrient cycling chain. Because they are very sensitive to environmental changes, they are also considered efficient bioindicators. The Northeast region of Brazil is home to urban remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest with a high potential for soil biological diversity, but these areas suffer a great deal of anthropogenic influence, and recognizing the diversity and ecological dynamics they harbor is fundamental for their management and maintenance. In this way, this study sought to inventory the Entomobryomorpha epiedaphic springtails fauna of the Parque Estadual Dunas do Natal in the rainy and dry periods along a vegetation gradient using pitfall traps, with the aim of analyzing the population fluctuation of the species between the seasons studied and their microhabitat preferences. To this end, in addition to collecting specimens, environmental parameters such as phytophysiognomy, air temperature and relative humidity, soil pH, leaf litter height and canopy cover were measured. A total of 2,335 specimens of Entomobryomorpha were collected, distributed in two families, six subfamilies, nine genera and 19 species/morphospecies over the two collection periods, with a clear predominance of the Entomobryidae family. The Lepidocyrtinae subfamily stood out for its abundance in the rainy periods, especially Lepidocyrtus sp. 1, while L. pseudoannulata showed greater tolerance to drier conditions. The analyses showed that α diversity and species richness were significantly higher in the rainy season, confirming the influence of climatic factors such as humidity and temperature on the ecology of these organisms. The Upper Forest showed greater diversity and abundance of species during the dry season, reinforcing the role of the denser canopy and greater moisture retention as factors favoring the maintenance of communities. The Lower Forest, on the other hand, with less stratified vegetation and greater sun exposure, recorded lower diversity, especially during the dry season. The results support previously described ecological hypotheses, highlighting the influence of environmental factors, such as moisture availability and structural heterogeneity, on the seasonal dynamics and distribution of epiedaphic springtails. The predominance of indicator species in certain phytophysiognomies reinforces the relevance of these areas for conservation and sustainable management. This study contributes to the understanding of the ecology of edaphic fauna in urban areas of the Atlantic Forest, providing fundamental information for conservation strategies and environmental monitoring.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1879211 - BRUNO CAVALCANTE BELLINI
Externo à Instituição - ALEXANDRE DE OLIVEIRA MARQUES
Externo à Instituição - CLÉCIO DANILO DIAS DA SILVA - UFRN