Efeito de borda sobre a Coleopterofauna edáfica em um remanescente de Cerrado

Abstract

The monoculture of eucalyptus has contributed to the fragmentation of forests, and these fragments are affected by changes in temperature and humidity that influence the local soil coleopteran fauna. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the edge effect on soil coleopteran fauna. The experiment was conducted between February and April 2024 in a remnant of the Cerrado, inserted within a mosaic of eucalyptus monoculture. Pitfall traps were used to collect organisms, placed along a 1,900-meter transect, where they remained for seven days. The collections were made in plots positioned at different distances from the edge of the remnant, with the first plot located at the edge and the second 500 meters away. The subsequent plots were distributed at intervals of 100 meters until the 14th plot. The environmental variables analyzed included air temperature, relative humidity, and luminosity. A decrease in temperature and an increase in humidity were observed as the distance from the edge increased. The collected Coleoptera were identified to the family taxonomic level. A total of 463 organisms were collected, distributed across eight families. The most representative families were Curculionidae (71.1%), Staphylinidae (21.4%), and Scarabaeidae (4.8%). However, only Staphylinidae showed a significant correlation with the edge-interior distance gradient, indicating the presence of an edge effect. The analysis indicated that the abundance of coleopteran fauna was higher at the edge area and decreased as the distance from the interior of the remnant increased, with temperature and humidity variables possibly modulating this pattern. Coleoptera are used as bioindicators, as they are one of the most diverse insect groups, are easy to collect and identify, and occupy various ecological niches.