Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Comparison Between Ground Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Communities Foraging in the Straw Mulch of Sugarcane Crops and in the Leaf Litter of Neighboring Forests

Full text
Author(s):
Silva, N. S. ; Saad, L. P. ; Souza-Campana, D. R. ; Bueno, O. C. ; Morini, M. S. C.
Total Authors: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Economic Entomology; v. 110, n. 1, p. 111-117, FEB 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

In many sugarcane plantations in Brazil, the straw is left on the soil after harvesting, and vinasse, a by- product of the production of sugar and ethanol, is used for fertigation. Our goal was to compare ant community composition and species richness in the straw mulch of sugarcane crops with the leaf litter of neighboring forests. We tested the hypothesis that ant communities in the straw mulch of vinasse- irrigated sugarcane crops and in the forest leaf litter were similar, because the combination of straw mulching and vinasse irrigation has a positive effect on soil fauna. Straw mulch and leaf litter were collected from 21 sites and placed in Berlese funnels. In total, 61 species were found in the forest leaf litter, whereas 34 and 28 species were found in the straw mulch of sugarcane fields with and without vinasse, respectively. Ant communities differed between forest and crop fields, but the species in the sugarcane straw mulch were a subset of the species found in the forest leaf litter. Although vinasse is rich in organic matter, it did not increase ant diversity. Seven feeding and/ or foraging types were identified and, among the different types, surface-foraging omnivorous ants were the most prevalent in all habitats. Vinasse-irrigated sugarcane straw mulch had more predatory species than mulch from vinasse- free fields, but fewer than forest leaf litter. However, this positive effect of vinasse irrigation should be carefully evaluated because vinasse has negative effects on the environment. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/50280-2 - Morphological variations in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the cultivation of sugar cane with different management forms
Grantee:Débora Rodrigues de Souza
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 12/50197-2 - Action of products used in cultivation of sugar cane on non-target organisms
Grantee:Carmem Silvia Fontanetti Christofoletti
Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants