SPRINGTAILS (HEXAPODA: COLLEMBOLA) AS SOIL QUALITY BIOINDICATORS IN AREAS WITH ARAUCARIA ANGUSTIFOLIA

There is no information about the diversity of springtails associated with Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze forests in Brazil. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of springtail family diversity as a soil quality indicator and to separate different Araucaria areas, using soil chemical and microbiological attributes as explanatory variables. The study was conducted in four areas of: 1. native forest with predominance of Araucaria (NF); 2. Araucaria reforestation (R); 3. Araucaria reforestation burnt by an accidental fire (RF), and 4. native grass pasture with native Araucaria and burnt by an intense accidental fire (NPF). In the capture of the organisms, ten Araucaria trees were randomly selected and pitfall traps were distributed around the selected Araucaria trees, at the same sampling points as for soil chemical and microbiological attributes. The number of springtails of each family extracted per trap (abundance), Shannon's diversity index (H) and family richness in the different areas were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The abundance of springtails of each family was analyzed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Eight springtail families (Brachystomellidae, Entomobryidae, Hypogastruridae, Isotomidae, Katiannidae, Paronellidae Sminthuridae and Tomoceridae) were identified in the four areas. The diversity of springtail families was always higher in the NF and R areas, in comparison with RF and NPF. The soil chemical and microbiological attributes were effective as explanatory variables, and useful in the interpretation of modifications occurring in springtail families. The PCA showed that the identification at the family level for Collembola was sufficient to separate the four studied areas, and also indicated which springtail families were most associated with each area. This variable can therefore be considered an indicator of soil quality and anthropogenic disturbance in these forests.