Diversidade de Scarabaeidae s. str. detritívoros (Coleoptera) em diferentes fitofisionomias da Chapada das Perdizes, Carrancas - MG

Abstract

The spatial changes in species composition are closely related to the environmental aspects associated to habitat variation. The natural landscapes of Minas Gerais are organized in mosaics, associated to antropic action or natural factors, such as soil conditions and altitude. This work aims to study the spatial variation in composition and species richness of dung beetles. The study was carried in the Perdizes Plateau, Carrancas, SE Brazil. The region has a landscape composed mainly by four phytophysiognomies: Brazilian savanna, altitudinal grasslands, rupestrian fields and forests. The dung beetles were collected in 4 areas of each phytophysiognomy with pifall traps baited with carrion or human faeces. 2363 individuals of 52 species were collected: 1247 individuals in 29 species in the forest, with 20 exclusive ones of this phytophysiognomy, 352 individuals in 18 species in the grassland, with 4 exclusive species; 386 individuals of 19 species in the Brazilian savanna and 5 exclusive species, and 378 individuals of 20 species in the rupestrian field, with 5 exclusive species. The faeces baited traps were more efficient in the capture and the forest was the phytophysiognomy with highest diversity and abundance of dung beetles. This pattern indicates that plant covering; soil texture and altitude had been factors that had influenced the structure of the dung beetle community. However, the other phytophysiognomies are also important for conservation, once that the species composition that occurs in each environment is essential for the maintenance of the regional diversity.