Comunidade e serviços ecológicos de besouros Escarabeíneos (Scarabaeidae: Scarabeinae), associados a diferentes tipos de uso do solo

Abstract

The hypothesis of habitat heterogeneity is one of the factors that may explain the distribution patterns of diversity and dynamics of organisms. It assumes that structurally complex habitats may provide more niches and diverse ways to exploit environmental resources and thus increase species diversity. However this diversity is threatened mainly due to human actions that cause processes of habitat conversion and fragmentation. This leads to a decrease of diversity , and can often lead to loss of functional groups with deleterious consequences for the provision of such services in medium and long term. In relation to these issues is important to understand the relationship between organisms and their ecosystem functions with diversity. In this case, the beetles ( Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae ) are considered as excellent models for study because they are good indicators of cost- benefit, especially in studies that focus on the consequences of disturbances of habitats. Thus this work aims to evaluate the effects of environmental degradation on the attributes of the community, defined by: richness and abundance of beetles, richness and abundance of beetles of each functional guild and species size. Regarding ecological services removing feces and seeds were evaluated according to the metrics of the community and the influence of the landscape arising from the degradation processes were evaluated. After the completion of the work a total of 3908 individuals distributed among 18 genera and 44 species were collected. Through the construction of generalized linear models it was found that the intensification of land use leads to in a decrease in the richness of beetles and that the functional guilds can be applied. Regarding ecological services higher values were found in forests with trend of decreasing in other analyzed areas. In relation to the functional guilds there was a reduction in their values according to the intensification of land use, but the relationship between the variables was intrinsic to each group.