Composição da megafauna em fragmentos de cerrado no sul do Piauí

Abstract

The Cerrado Biome has undergone alterations by anthropic activities in which it has promoted the substitution of its natural components mainly by agropastoral activities, leading to environmental problems. Because it has a considerable diversity of organisms, this biome needs scientific attention to promote the recovery of degraded areas and the realization of sustainable activities. It is estimated that in the cerrado it presents a richness of fauna that corresponds to more than 100 thousand species of invertebrates and almost 9 thousand species of vertebrates. Faced with this faunistic richness, it is important to recognize that living organisms play important roles in maintaining and balancing this biome, guaranteeing all the homeostasis of dependency relations. As for example amphibians that, although biological changes are sensitive, indicate environmental quality, it should be noted that many species that make up the avifauna contribute to the colonization in different areas by the plants, as they carry seeds dispersion and are extraordinary pollinating organisms. We cannot forget that many reptiles and organisms of the mastofauna end up functioning as umbrella species, conserving all those that relate to these animals, considering also the fact that they are population controllers, allowing environmentally balanced environments. Although it is understood that this biome is considered the last agricultural frontier, several studies on its natural resources, characterization of phytophysiognomy and, above all, studies on fauna management and conservation are necessary. For this, the fauna surveys are important, which in turn are important mechanisms of records on the presence and frequency of fauna in a given region. However, faunal surveys provide subsidies for further studies, with ecological strengthening in which the cerrado bioma needs. Thus, the fauna inventory, besides registering herpetofauna, avifauna and mastofauna species, brought the endangered threat level provided by IUCN / 2016, in which species in the LC category - not very worrisome, VU - were perceived to be vulnerable and DD - with poor data for categorization. The research was carried out in the rural area called Caxingó in the municipality of Corrente / PI, in which two study areas were analyzed (A1 - degraded area with 102 ha and A2 - Witness area with a size of 54, 2 ha) in which for the whole the highest number of records and frequency of animals of all the groups studied in the control area (A2) was recorded, showing the group of birds, thus proving that the area degraded by agropastoral activities (A1) is not able to harbor complex natural life, since its resources are scarce. The study also provided through the ecological trail that there are direct practices of defaunation, highlighting mainly predatory hunting.