Impacto da queima em canavial sobre a fauna de cupins no litoral paraibano

Abstract

Fire is often used in sugarcane and can directly affect the local termite. The present study aimed to point out how the fire may influence the assemblage of termites in the area of sugar cane, through the verification of species richness and abundance of these organisms. We carried out direct collections in 30 plots of cane, one before the fire, and after 10, 60, 120, 180 and 240 days, in the Distillery Miriri, Paraiba, Brazil. In plots of 1 and 2 m 2 soil (30 cm), root cane and litter were surveyed. Soil samples up to 45 cm in three blocks of 15 cm (A, B and C) were taken from the center of each plot with the aid of an auger, and these have been conducted to Berlese Extractor. We recorded 15 species of termite families Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae. Nasutitermes ephratae and Amitermes nordestinus were the most abundant species in soil both before and after the fire. The richness of termites varied slightly depending on the fire, oscillating between 10 and 12 species. A. amifer was found only after 10 and 60 days after burning the sugarcane fields. Microcerotermes strunkii occurred in the pre-burn back to be collected 180 days after burning. Generally, the layer of soil C corresponded to a greater abundance of termites collected. The fire affected mainly canebrake N. ephratae viewed by decreasing the abundance of these termites soon after burning, indicating cause population imbalance on the most sensitive species of termites.