Efeitos dos ninhos de Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) sobre a estrutura da comunidade de artrópodes do solo na Mata Atlântica

Abstract

Tropical forests support a great vegetal diversity, in part, through an nutrient cycling initiated by the soil arthropod’s fauna, which facilitated the litter decomposers action, propitiating the release of stock nutrients to the soil. Therefore, studies about these fauna and what factors alter it are extremely important to understand the nutrient cycling process in tropical forests. Among epigeic fauna represents, the leaf-cutting ants are considered the Neotropical region dominant herbivores and studies relate their multiple effects on vegetable community and the soil . Nonetheless, there aren’t studies about leaf-cutting ants effects on other arthropods communities, including mirmecofauna. This study aim to investigate the nests effects of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) on a soil arthropod community. The study site was Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where we collected samples at ten A. sexdens nests in period of 2 February to 9 February 2016. Along a linear transect of 32 meters, we collected litter samples from 0,25 m² size at intervals of 8 meters from each nests’ edge of A. sexdens, whereby we also measured the air and soil temperature, the light and the air relative humidity. We aim to verify if litter structure and microclimatic conditions alter arthropod community structure and if these effects can be mediated by A. sexdens nests. The hypothesis in question are: 1) Litter Hypothesis, whereby arthropod community structure would be influenced by litter and litter would be altered by A. sexdens; 2) Abiotic Factors Hypothesis, whereby arthropod community structure would be influenced by abiotic factors and these factors would be altered by A. sexdens and 3) Nest Hypothesis, whereby community alterations would happen through intrinsic factors to active nests presence and not explained by alterations in a litter and/or in abiotic factors measured. For the test of the first and the second hypothesis, we did simple regressions and next variance analysis, assessing the litter and abiotic factors effects on arthropod community parameters and if this effects can be mediated by A. sexdens. To test Nest Hypothesis, we did variance analysis and analysis of similarities, assessing direct effects of A. sexdens on other arthropods community. We collected 3074 arthropods, among them Acari and Collembola were the most abundant groups. In relation of the ants, we obtained 63 specimens, in 26 genera and 32 identified species. The Strumigenys genus was one of the most frequent genera and it detained the biggest richness among mirmecofauna predators.We didn’t detect A. sexdens effects on soil arthropod community around its nests. Studies that include sazonality and behavior comparison between different species of leaf-cutting ants can result in new knowledge about the interaction between these organisms and other arthropods