Inventory of the termitofauna and fluctuation associated with forest restoration of the atlantic forest

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the forest restoration of the basin of Guapiaçu river in Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ, using the families of Termites as tools for environmental assessment. We analyzed the population fluctuation and feeding guilds of the families of the Termites: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae. Six sampling points were arranged along Guapiaçu river, five points being inferred in reforestations carrieds out in the basin and a point in a regeneration control area. Quantitative and qualitative surveys followed standard protocols and the samples were obtained directly, without baits. Thirty taxons were identified and the family Termitidae was the most frequent. The termitofauna of the amostral control point P06 was the richest. From the frequencies of occurrences of the species related to their trophic guild, an ecological evaluation table of the environments was proposed, where the P05 area rich in climactic plant species was the one that presented the greatest similarity to the natural regeneration area P06. The majority of the species was classified as xilophagous.