Mudanças na qualidade físico-química do solo associadas ao cultivo de Eucalyptus impactam a estrutura das comunidades de formigas e os serviços ecossistêmicos prestados em ambientes montanhosos

Abstract

A large part of the Earth's surface is composed of mountains, environments characterized by high levels of endemism and biodiversity, but sensitive to anthropogenic activities. The increase in land use, such as eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, contributes to the fragmentation and simplification of natural habitats, impacting fauna and ecological processes. After successive crops, these areas become less profitable and are often abandoned, hindering natural regeneration. Our aim was to understand how eucalyptus cultivation and land abandonment affect ant diversity and ecological processes in mountainous environments, including detritivory, seed removal, and predation.The research was conducted in three cerrado areas in northern Minas Gerais, comparing preserved regions, managed plantations, and abandoned areas. Using 54 pitfall traps and 108 experimental arenas, we analyzed species richness, composition, and ecological interactions. The preserved areas showed about 50% greater ant richness compared to the other treatments, due to the higher environmental complexity. Soil fertility negatively influenced diversity but positively affected species turnover through beta diversity.Seed predation was higher in managed eucalyptus areas, while larval removal and larval predation were higher in the preserved area. Abandoned areas showed intermediate diversity, but species composition remained altered. Degradation reduced larval removal, impacting ecosystem services. Eucalyptus cultivation negatively affects biodiversity, and the recovery of ecological stability requires management strategies aimed at soil and habitat restoration.