Do Ecological Corridors Increase the Abundance of Soil Fauna?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ecological corridors are areas of natural vegetation that connect two or more separate habitat patches, surrounded by a non-habitat matrix. Soil fauna is important for sustainability, conservation and soil quality. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of corridors on the soil faunal community in crops near savannah vegetation areas by examining the effects on trophic, movement and taxonomic groups. We collected data during the dry and rainy seasons in two areas of biodynamic agriculture. Then, we calculated trophic, movement, taxonomic group abundance, total abundance, richness, equability and diversity. The taxa Acari, Chilopoda, Oligochaeta, Orthoptera and Psocoptera were the most abundant in cultivated areas with corridors during the rainy season, while the taxa Dermaptera, Diplura, Diptera, Collembola, Formicidae larva, Lepidoptera and Lepidoptera larva were more abundant in cultivated areas with corridors during the dry season. The trophic, movement, taxonomic group abundance, richness, equability and diversity were higher during the rainy season and were not related to corridor presence. Ecological corridors increased the abundance of some taxonomic groups of soil fauna in cultivated areas, thereby contributing to the maintenance of specific taxonomic groups, which provide important ecosystem services.