Effect of edge on the dynamics of beetle in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The aim of this research was to characterize the coleopterofauna regarding the distribution, family richness and trophic groups, in addition to evaluate the response in relation to the extension of the edge effect. Bimonthly samples were collected from November 2012 to May 2013, with pitfall traps of the type without bait.These were allocated to three transects perpendicular to the edge, equidistant by 50 meters, each featuring 10 traps separated by 100 meters, and the sense of the edge of the transect to the conserved forest, resulting in 30 samples.We collected 3959 individuals distributed in 13 families from which the most abundant were Ptiliidae (34%), Scarabaeidae (29,7%), Staphylinidae (17,1%), Curculionidae (9%) and Nitidulidae (6,4%). A non-monotonic pattern was observed for the richness and abundance of the families. The most representative trophic groups were the fungivorous (35.9%), scavengers (30.6%) and predators (17.8%). Only the distribution of detritivores was significantly affected by the edge effect. Possibly the fragment is stabilized due to the age of the edge and the effect is not evident. This work is therefore another important contribution to the subject still little known and complex to be studied given the particularities presented by different taxa and different types of edge.