Vegetation structure and its relation to the diversity and abundance of Coleoptera bio-indicators in five vegetation systems, Piracicaba, SP

• Grant number: 12/25480-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Ciro Abbud Righi
• Grantee: Ciro Abbud Righi
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is considered one of the world's major biomes, however, currently is fragmented. Fragmentation causes changes in environmental conditions that will reflect on the loss and displacement of biodiversity, insects being one of the groups most affected. One way to assess the state of conservation of the fragments is to study the dynamics of insect populations. The hypothesis of this study is that the presence of insects is related to the structure of different land uses. This project aims to assess the diversity, abundance and similarity of species of beetles (Scarabaeidae and Scolytidae) in five systems of different vegetation structures: i) seasonal forest, ii) pasture iii) cultivation of Coffea arabica, iv) planting of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) and v) agroforestry system with rubber coffee located in a region of the former domain of seasonal forest in Piracicaba-SP. Vegetation systems will be characterized as to its structure and micrometeorological condition. The presence of insects will be quantified monthly, performing transects with three replications for each system vegetation. The insects are collected in two types of traps (Pitfall traps and ethanol) and transported to the laboratory of entomology ESALQ-USP for identification. The insects will be identified and quantified if possible to the species level. Will analyze the correlation between the areas are calculated and the Shannon diversity index and evenness of fairness. (AU)