Considerações sobre os efeitos do turismo no ecossistema da mina do Chico Rei (Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais): implicações para o manejo em sistemas naturais

Abstract

Touristic activities in Brazilian caves are quite common. Furthermore, such activities are increasing all over the country. However, the tourism in caves can led to severe impacts when it is conducted in not proper ways. The aim of this work was to evaluate eventual changes in some abiotic (temperature and moisture content) and biotic parameters after some touristic activities in an artificial cavity (“Mina do Chico Rei”), located in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. Temperature and moisture content had increased after the touristic visits. Furthermore, those activities had led to some changes in the cavity, such as soil compacting. The invertebrates are preferentially distributed in places not directly or intensively affected by the tourists. The tourism in a cavity has to be planned preferentially before the beginning of those activities, since many impacts derived from tourism can be irreversible.