Fauna edáfica associada à unidade de conservação sob zona ecotonal do meio norte

Abstract

The Palmares National Forest Conservation Unit (UC FLONA Palmares) is a natural refuge for species of regional fauna, attracted by the preserved forest. It is also inserted in an ecotonal zone, which gives it a structure and a differentiated ecological dynamic with vegetational characteristics of the Cerrado and Caatinga mainly. In this way, the objective was to characterize the soil fauna occurring within it and study environmental components that may interfere with its dynamics. As a product, a booklet was created to present the soil fauna groups of Flona Palmares in a clear and accessible manner, with indications of their ecological roles. As subproducts, three articles were produced to characterize the influence of seasonal variation and different sectors, as well as to compare the efficiency of two pitfall traps (adapted and pitfall). Regarding the effects of seasonality, it was found that the rainy period positively influences the soil fauna community, with a higher record of specimens. This information is relevant for understanding the occurrence patterns and dynamics of these organisms throughout the year. The evaluation of the effects of different zones within the Palmares National Forest revealed no significant differences between the zones of Moderate Use, Infrastructure, and Different Public Interests regarding the soil fauna community. This suggests that, regardless of the zone, the diversity and abundance of these organisms are similar, emphasizing the importance of conserving all areas of the conservation unit. The description of the ecological roles of soil fauna groups in the Palmares National Forest provided a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological interactions present in this ecosystem. Groups such as ants, beetles, and earthworms, for example, play fundamental roles in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling, contributing to the maintenance of soil and ecosystem health as a whole. The comparison between the adapted and pitfall traps showed that both were effective in capturing soil fauna. This information is valuable for future studies and monitoring, as it indicates that both traps can be used complementarily in soil fauna research in FLONA Palmares. The description of the ecological roles of soil fauna groups in the Palmares National Forest provided a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological interactions present in this ecosystem. The booklet "Fauna Edáfica da Unidade de Conservação Floresta Nacional de Palmares” is a valuable educational tool that fulfills its purpose of disseminating information about soil fauna and promoting environmental conservation.