MEDEIROS, M. F.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3431347969751305; MEDEIROS, Matheus Ferreira de.
Abstract:
The cycles of litter contribution and action of edaphic organisms are fundamental in
the process of biogeochemical cycling and the stability of the Caatinga biome. The
research area is the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN), located in the
municipality of Santa Terezinha (PB), where in 2003 seven transects were
demarcated, 200 m apart, and 1.0 m x 1.0 m collectors were installed to evaluate the
monthly deposition of litter. The study aimed to estimate the spatial and temporal
variation of deposition, accumulation and decomposition of litter, and to evaluate the
population of mesofauna that colonize the soil-litter compartments and the interference
of climatic variables in the dynamics of these events. For the present study, the
evaluations were carried out in two periods: period 1 from August/2018 to July/2019
and period 2 from August/2019 to July/2020. All intercepted material was separated
into fractions (leaves, branches + bark, reproductive material and miscellaneous). The
accumulation of litter on the forest floor was quantified using a metal frame with
dimensions of 0.5 m x 0.5 m, to estimate the rate of litter decomposition. To evaluate
edaphic mesofauna, metal rings (5.2 cm high and 4.8 cm in diameter) were used,
removing four undeformed samples per transect each month for subsequent extraction
of organisms in the Berlese-Tullgren apparatus. The average annual litter production
via input in the collection boxes was 629.89 kg ha-1 in Period 1 (August/2018 to
July/2019) and 352.38 kg ha -1 in Period 2 (August/2019 to July/2020). In the
composition of the edaphic fauna, the orders of mites and collembola stood out,
contributing 51.6% of the organisms extracted in Period 1 and 75.18% in Period 2. It
is concluded that the fractions of leaves and branches were those that contributed most
to the formation of the litter in both cycles.