Abstract

GOMEZ PAMIES, Diego Fernano; GODOY, María Celina  and  CORONEL, Juan Manuel. Macrofauna edáfica en ecosistemas naturales y agroecosistemas de la eco-región Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes, Argentina). Cienc. suelo [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.1, pp.43-56. ISSN 1850-2067.

Soil macrofauna from four natural and agricultural ecosystems with different disturbance degrees, located at the Esteros del Ibera ecoregion (Corrientes, Argentina) was analyzed in order to assess the impact of productive activities in this wetland. The diversity, abundance, density and biomass of the main invertebrate groups were determined and the analyzed communities were compared. The modified Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below Ground Biodiversity protocol was applied at four points on each site. The influence of different perturbation factors on the biota was analyzed. Soil macrofauna was composed by 19 invertebrate orders, mainly earthworms and arthropods (termites, ants and beetles were the most abundant). The differences between the analyzed assemblages were referred to taxonomic composition, diversity, order number and density, but they were not statistically significant for the last feature. Most individuals were detected in surface soil layer (0-10 cm) and biomass was higher on pastures although the orders of higher relative biomass were different at each site. On the bases of the similarities in the macrofaunal communities, the analyzed ecosystems formed two groups: cotton crop -forested pasture and natural forest- grazed pasture. Two of the analyzed perturbations (replacement of natural vegetation and soil removal) influenced the soil macrofauna. Ants and worms were identified as potential bioindicators in these assemblages, while subterranean termites were well represented, mainly in the more disturbed sites.

Keywords : Soil invertebrates; Agroecosystems; Anthropogenic disturbances.

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