Termites of the Gurupi Biological Reserve, Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The Gurupi Biological Reserve (Rebio Gurupi) is a strategically important area for the conservation of Amazonian flora and fauna, as it represents one of the last remaining patches of Amazon rainforest on the easternmost edge of the biome. Despite its relevance and the high biomass of termites, a group crucial for ecosystem services, their assemblages remain largely unknown in Rebio Gurupi. In this study we therefore provide a first checklist of the termites in the Gurupi Biological Reserve. Termites were sampled across different microhabitats using standardized time- and area-restricted collection protocols, as well as qualitative sampling. The classification of feeding groups was carried out according to information present in the scientific literature. A total of 98 termite species were registered, distributed across four families, eight subfamilies, and 53 genera. Of these, 93 species belong to the family Termitidae. Soil-feeders were predominant, with a total of 57 species. Sample completeness indices suggest that several additional species may be observed with continued inventory efforts. Our results show that the area has a high termite diversity and reinforce the importance of Rebio Gurupi as a biodiversity refuge, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to preserve termite fauna and the associated ecosystem services.