Epigeic fauna (with emphasis on ant community) response to land-use change for sugarcane expansion in Brazil

Author(s)

Vanolli, Beatriz S. ^[1] ; Canisares, Lucas P. ^[2] ; Franco, Andre L. C. ^{[3, 4]} ; Delabie, Jacques H. C. ^[5] ; Cerri, Carlos E. P. ^[1] ; Cherubin, Mauricio R. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Agron Inst Campinas, BR-13012970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Colorado State Univ, Dept Biol, Ft Collins, CO 80523 - USA

^[4] Colorado State Univ, Sch Global Environm Sustainabil, Ft Collins, CO 80523 - USA

^[5] Univ Estadual Santa Cruz, Ctr Pesquisa Cacau, Dept Ciencias Agr & Ambientais, Lab Mirmecol, CEPLAC, CxP 7, BR-45600970 Ilheus, BA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY; v. 110, MAY 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The epigeic fauna, ground surface-dwelling invertebrates that inhabit leaf-litter, acts on multiple soil processes and key ecosystem services and is threatened by global land-use change (LUC). In Brazil, LUC for sugarcane expansion over extensive pasture has been taking place for promoting bioenergy production; however, conventional sugarcane cultivation includes monoculture, periodic soil tillage and agrochemicals may alter the quantity and quality of crop residue inputs, soil habitats and communities of soil fauna. Thus, a field study at three sites in central southern Brazil was conducted to evaluate if the expansion of sugarcane cultivation affects soil epigeic fauna. In each site, we sampled epigeic fauna in areas under LUC from native vegetation to extensive pasture, and from that to sugarcane. The epigeic fauna was collected using pitfall traps and then quantified and classified in taxonomic groups (Order, Class, Family). In addition, as a focal organism group, ants were classified at the species level. Overall, 13 taxonomic groups were identified, in which the Formicidae family was the most abundant group (i.e., 67% of individuals), followed by Diptera (13%), Araneae (5%) and Coleoptera (4%). Land transition from native vegetation to pasture increased fauna abundance by 27% but reduced the diversity of epigeic fauna community by 43%. In contrast, sugarcane expansion over extensive pasture reduced fauna abundance (22%), did not alter the diversity of the invertebrate community at a broad taxonomic level, but decreased species richness of the dominant taxa (ants) by 55%. Ant individuals were classified into 37 species, allowing to verify that sugarcane cultivation over pastures decreased both the abundance and richness of ants and altered community composition. Ant species Ectatomma brunneum were more sensitive to LUC and, therefore, could be characterized as potential indicators of disturbed environments. We demonstrate that sugarcane expansion over pasturelands reduces the total abundance of the soil epigeic fauna, and that effects on fauna diversity vary from broad to fine taxonomic resolutions. Further studies are needed to evaluate if the declines in fauna abundance and ant species richness impair specific soil functions and soil-related ecosystem services. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/17581-6 - SOIL QUALITY IN AREAS OF LAND USE CHANGE FOR SUGARCANE CULTIVATION IN SOUTH-CENTER OF BRAZIL - data for the evaluation of environmental sustainability of ethanol
• Grantee: Maurício Roberto Cherubin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/09845-7 - Implications of expansion and management intensification on soil ecosystem services
• Grantee: Maurício Roberto Cherubin
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/22510-8 - Soil engineering by macroinvertebrates: controls on soil organic matter storage across land use change
• Grantee: Andre Luiz Custodio Franco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/24982-7 - Understanding the role of soil (macro)biota in mediating shifts on structural stability and soil organic matter allocation in the land use change for sugarcane production
• Grantee: Andre Luiz Custodio Franco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/16764-6 - Changes in soil biodiversity induced by the expansion of sugarcane cultivation over extensive pasture areas
• Grantee: Beatriz da Silva Vanolli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master