Habitat size and anthropic threatens: the role of conservation areas on macroinvertebrates from tank bromeliads

Caroline Dias Rosa,Felipe Micali Nuvoloni,Iniwara Kurovisk Pereira,Rosângela Capuano Tardivo,Tainá Jardim Antunes

doi:10.22571/2526-4338493

Caroline Dias Rosa, Felipe Micali Nuvoloni + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.22571/2526-4338493

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Abstract

Tank bromeliads may act enhancing local biodiversity providing an important habitat for varied species. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a conservation unit and anthropic threatens on the macroinvertebrate communities associated with Aechmea distichantha (Bromeliaceae) as a model to access local ecosystems studies. The survey was conducted in the Vila Velha State Park, without severe anthropic influences and at Vila Velha Farm with the presence of Pinus spp. (an exotic/invasive species), crop plantations and a road (Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil). The living organisms and bromeliad parameters were evaluated from 20 bromeliads. Total abundance was higher at anthropized area and driven by the larger size of those bromeliads. Species richness also tended to be higher at the anthropized area, although the conservation unit presented higher values when rare species were excluded. The results pointed out that bromeliads from conservation unit were under minor anthropic influences, being the presence of pines considered the main disturb in the anthropized site, which may have influenced the quality and amount of detritus resulting in distinct species composition and dominance of more tolerant taxa (Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae). So, bromeliad mesocosm may be well suited for surveys considering anthropic influences on local ecosystems.

Highlights

We aimed to study the macroinvertebrate communities associated with A. distichantha as a model to evaluate the importance of preserved environment and anthropic threatens in local ecosystems, accessing the effects in the bromeliad parameters, species diversity, composition and abundance
One parcel with ten plants was located inside the Vila Velha State Park (VVSP - 25°20'48.48"S, 49°59'59.59"O) which in turn is characterized as an Integral Protection Unit with 3,122.11ha (IAP, 2004)
A total of 15 species and 602 individuals were found associated with bromeliads from the conservation unit, while in the Vila Velha Farm there were retrieved 27 species and 1.443 individuals (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are widely distributed in Neotropical regions (Givnish et al, 2011), being many species suitable to store rainwater and nutrients from processed debris, animal excreta and carcasses, conceiving a proper microhabitat (i.e. phytotelmata) to the survival and development of a diverse aquatic and semi-aquatic biota biota, e.g., Acta Brasiliensis 5(2): 76-82, 2021Rosa, et al – Tank bromeliad as a study model of anthropic threatening microorganisms, micro and macroinvertebrates (Kitching, 2001).Studies considering tank bromeliads as mesocosms have been relevant to understand ecosystem functioning and structure (Dézerald et al, 2014), as to predict shifts in communities under different environmental conditions (e.g. canopy cover, light incidence, temperature, rainfall events, drought) and anthropic threatens (Kratina, Petermann, Marino, MacDonald & Srivastava, 2017; Romero et al, 2020).The composition, origin and amount of the detritus stored in the phytotelmata drive the patterns of decomposition and degradation of organic matter that will supply bromeliads trophic chain (Leroy et al, 2017). The floristic composition and ecosystem integrity of the surrounding environment affect the macroinvertebrate community associated with the bromeliads, since it supplies organic matter and debris to the phytotelmata (Brouard et al, 2012; Leroy et al, 2017), and regulate the local microclimate conditions such as light incidence, humidity, and temperature (Brouard et al, 2012; Dézerald et al, 2014). (Bromeliaceae) is a native and endemic tank bromeliad from Brazil commonly found in areas of native vegetation in Campos Gerais from Paraná State, southern region (Tardivo & Cervi, 2001). Native vegetation of Campos Gerais has been strongly threatened mainly due to the conversion of natural fields into crops and livestock farming, and by invasive species (Moro & Carmo, 2007)

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