High termite richness in an urban fragment of Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil

Authors

  • Matilde Vasconcelos Ernesto Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia
  • Elaine Folly Ramos Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Aplicadas e Educação
  • Flávia Maria da Silva Moura Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Alexandre Vasconcellos Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia

Keywords:

Isoptera, Feeding Groups, Biodiversity, Neotropical Region

Abstract

Termites are very abundant in tropical ecosystems and have active roles in nutrient cycling and soil formation, but few studies of their assemblages have been undertaken in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The present study analyzed the composition of termite assemblages in a fragment of Atlantic Forest embedded within an urban matrix in northeastern Brazil. Five standardized sampling protocols of termites were applied, with a total sampling effort of 1500m2. We encountered 45 species of termites belonging to 25 genera and three families. The soil-feeders group demonstrated the greatest species richness, while wood-feeders species were the most abundant. The species richness of termite in the study area was the greatest yet recorded for an Atlantic forest site in Brazil, indicating the importance of urban fragments for conserving tropical biodiversity.
Issue Cover Vol.: 14 Num: 3

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Published

2014-09-01

How to Cite

Ernesto, M. V., Ramos, E. F., Moura, F. M. da S., & Vasconcellos, A. (2014). High termite richness in an urban fragment of Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 14(3). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1325

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2014): v14n3

Section

Inventories

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