Work

Collembola (Hexapoda) diversity in a Caatinga-Cerrado transition protected área

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Collembola are major components of soil mesofauna, playing crucial roles in this environment. However, studies on this fauna in the Neotropical Region are mostly focused on taxonomy. The aim of this study was to investigate how vegetation structure influences the diversity and composition of epiedaphic Collembola assemblages across different vegetation types in Serra das Confusões National Park (PNSC), Brazil. Specimens were collected during two samplings, and were sorted, morphotyped, mounted, and identified. We performed environmental characterization, evaluated alpha and beta diversity, used the IndVal index for indicator species analysis, and conducted a Redundancy Analysis to assess the influence of environmental parameters on assemblages. We sampled 29,616 specimens, comprising 40 morphospecies and six nominal species. Our data showed significant differences between the vegetation types, with the highest abundances and richness recorded during the first sampling in the semideciduous forest, due to the dominance of taxa related to open habitats with limited moisture. The main environmental variables influencing diversity patterns were canopy cover, leaf litter height, silt percentage and soil temperature, reinforcing the dominance of species better adapted to aboveground and open habitats. We also present a comprehensive inventory of families and genera for PNSC, resulting in increased knowledge about the group in the region.

Source: Zoologia (Curitiba)

DOI: 10.1590/s1984-4689.v42.e25004