Semina: Ciências Agrárias ISSN: 1676-546X [email protected] Universidade Estadual de Londrina Brasil Holdefer, Daniela Roberta; Lutinski, Junir Antonio; Mello Garcia, Flávio Roberto Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants? Semina: Ciências Agrárias, vol. 38, núm. 6, noviembre-diciembre, 2017, pp. 3455-3468 Universidade Estadual de Londrina Londrina, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=445753603002 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n6p3455 Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants? O sistema de manejo orgânico de agroecossistemas contribui para a manutenção da riqueza de formigas? Daniela Roberta Holdefer1*; Junir Antonio Lutinski2; Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia3 Abstract Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants? This study assessed the richness of ant species in organically farmed crop agroecosystems of different ages located in the southern state of Paraná, Brazil. During the sampling, the pitfalls that were active during May/August 2009 and from October 2009 to February 2010 were used. A total of 11,874 ants belonging to five subfamilies was sampled, comprising 18 genera and 48 species. The subfamily Myrmicinae (S = 27) had the highest richness, followed by the genera Pheidole (S = 10), Solenopsis (S = 7), Formicinae (S = 3), Camponotus (S = 5), and Brachymyrmex (S = 5). The average difference between the observed richness (Sobs) and the estimated richness (Chao2) was 10.9%. Ant assemblages belonging to agroecosystems under organic management for long times presented the greatest richness, indicating that this system contributes to the maintenance of ant diversity. Key words: Atlantic forest. Biodiversity. Conservation. Pheidole. Richness. Resumo O sistema de manejo orgânico de agroecossistemas contribui para a manutenção da diversidade de formigas? Este trabalho avaliou a riqueza de formigas presentes em lavouras inseridas em agroecossistemas de manejo orgânico, com tempos de integralização diferentes, localizados no sul do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Na amostragem, foram utilizadas pitfalls que permaneceram ativas nos períodos de maio a agosto de 2009 e outubro de 2009 a fevereiro de 2010. Foram amostradas 11.874 formigas pertencentes a cinco subfamílias, 18 gêneros e 48 espécies. Destacou-se em riqueza a subfamília Myrmicinae (S = 27) e os gêneros Pheidole (S = 10) e Solenopsis (S = 7). Também Formicinae (S = 3) e os gêneros Camponotus (S = 5) e Brachymyrmex (S = 5). A diferença média entre a riqueza observada (Sobs) e a estimada (Chao 2) foi de 10,9%. Assembleias pertencentes aos agroecossistemas com maior tempo de manejo orgânico foram as mais ricas, indicando que este sistema contribui para a manutenção da diversidade de formigas. Palavras-chave: Mata Atlântica. Biodiversidade. Conservação. Pheidole. Riqueza. 1 Profª Dra, Colegiado de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Paraná, UNESPAR, Campus União da Vitória, União da Vitória, PR, Brasil. Dra Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fitossanidade/Entomologia, FAEM, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Prof., Dr., Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, UNOCHAPECÓ, Chapecó, SC, Brasil. E- mail: [email protected] 3 Prof., Dr., Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Zoologia e Genética, Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Programa de Pós- Graduação em Fitossanidade/Entomologia, FAEM, UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] * Author for correspondence Received: Oct. 18, 2016 - Approved: Sept. 26, 2017 3455 Semina: Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, v. 38, n. 6, p. 3455-3468, nov./dez. 2017 Holdefer, D. R.; Lutinski, J. A.; Garcia, F. R. M. Introduction controlling the availability of resources for the modification of materials through mechanical or The research on agroecosystems management other means (JONES et al., 1997), they assist in tends to use community as analysis unit (FERREIRA, the maintenance of the species richness in different 2008). The main attribute of a community is its habitats (WRIGHT et al., 2002). diversity, which is strongly related to factors such as stability, trophic structure, and productivity The study of the ant fauna active in organic (MAGURRAN, 2011). The most common metric cropping systems can allow inferences about the among the studies on diversity is richness (WILSEY environmental quality of the ecological matrix et al., 2005). and the management used. It can also provide information that assists in understanding how As simplified ecosystems, the agricultural areas groups of ants collaborate to undertake various that follow organic methods of production are activities, to maintain the sustainability and the considered an example of a sustainable production inclusion of organic systems in conservation plans. model (ABREU et al., 2012). This is because they These become more relevant if the system is a part seek the maintenance of viable production by using of the Atlantic forest formation, which is considered management techniques that preserve or improve one of the world’s 34 hotspots (CREPALDI et al., the physical base and the ability to support the 2014; LUTINSKI et al., 2014). agroecosystem (OKUMURA; PEREIRA JÚNIOR, 2011). The measure of richness can provide Thus, this study proposes: 1) to extend the important information concerning, for instance, knowledge on the richness of ants associated with the homogeneity of the environment, ecosystem agroecosystems and organic management and 2) sensitivity determination, or even the description to recognize the impact of the practice of organic and comparison of communities found therein management on the composition and richness of (MAGURRAN, 2011). All these factors constitute the ant assemblages under different management relevant information for the management of integration times. agricultural systems. In the studies on biodiversity, ants stand out Material and Methods because of features such as high diversity, biomass, and numerical dominance in almost every habitat, Sampling area as well as the sampling facility and identification The sampling was carried out in five of morphospecies (ALONSO; AGOSTI, 2000). In agroecosystems located in the following counties: agroecosystems, the presence of ant assemblages Paula Freitas (PF) (26°09′19″S; 50°47′05″W), Cruz positively impacts the productivity (WIELGOSS Machado (CM) (26°01′33″S; 51°13′23″W), Porto et al., 2013). Studies in agricultural fields show Vitória (PV) (26°09′22.9″S; 51°47′07.52″W), and that the presence of ant nests increases porosity, União da Vitória (UV) (26°03′09″S; 51°13′05″W thus, facilitating water infiltration to the deeper UV1 and 26°04′27″S; 51°10′36″W UV2), in the layers (LI et al., 2014). Ants can also modify the state of Paraná, southern Brazil (Figure 1). chemical properties of the soil through ingestion The selected agroecosystems are characterized and transport of mineral-origin and organic as agricultural systems for household production in materials along the soil profile, modulating the the areas of the Atlantic forest, as a part of its mixed concentration of nutrients and organic matter Ombrophilous formation. While choosing the degradation (CERDÁ; JUNGENSEN, 2008). By sampling sites, it was ensured that their properties increasing the environmental heterogeneity while meet the Brazilian legal framework regulating 3456 Semina: Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, v. 38, n. 6, p. 3455-3468, nov./dez. 2017 Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants? organic agriculture: Law 10,831, from December of vegetation in the form of a mosaic on the property, 23, 2003; Decree no. 6,323, from December 27, with fragments of size at least 200 m2, equidistant 2007, and Normative Instruction (NI) no 64, from (at least 15 m) from the crop wherein the sampling December 18, 2008 (BRASIL, 2003, 2007, 2008). sites were inserted, use of propagating material from plant species adapted to the local conditions The main aspects considered in the selection of and photoclimatics, use of bio-fertilizers, and use of these agroecosystems were: the distance from the tillage and soil cover. conventional systems within a 100 m, the presence Figure 1. Location of the organically managed agroecosystems where ant sampling was conducted from May/August 2009 to October 2009/February 2010: CM: Cruz Machado; PF: Paula Freitas; PV: Porto Vitória; UV: União da Vitória. Within each agroecosystem, amidst the crop, a the agroecosystem, União da Vitória 2 (UV2), sampling site of 1 ha was established. In all such where one of the sampling sites was set up. sites, the maintenance of soil biological activity and The criteria for characterization of the five the balance of nutrients were guaranteed by uniform agroecosystems, in terms of the extent and duration application of the same organic management of soil use, and the time of organic management at techniques: the soil was disc plowed in May 2009 the time of collecting ants, are provided in Table 1. and rock dust was incorporated at a dosage of 1.5 t/ha. Green manure was