Efeito de características da paisagem sobre a diversidade de himenópteros parasitoides no sudoeste goiano.

Abstract

The Cerrado is the second largest biome in South America, covering all Brazilian regions, representing around 23.3% of the national territory. It is the main center for the expansion of agricultural production in Brazil, however, only 48.6% of the biome is still covered by natural vegetation. This threatens the biodiversity of the Cerrado, leading to a reduction in populations of native species and the extinction of some. Certain groups of insects, such as Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants), are sensitive to environmental changes and are important bioindicators. Here we describe the diversity of non-aculate parasitoid hymenoptera and test the effect of landscape characteristics on the diversity of the group in the southwest of Goiás. The studied area was divided into 30 sampling locations, and, for each location, Malaise traps were installed. The specimens were identified at family level based on specific literature. From each collection point, landscape metrics were calculated from Mapbiomas data at a buffer scale of 3 km diameter for each sampling point. Richness and abundance were considered as response variables and environmental data as predictor variables. As a result, we found 7 non-aculeate parasitoid superfamilies, with Chalcidoidea showing the largest number of families. Twenty families were sampled, and Ichneumonidae as the most abundant and species-rich. there was no significative relationship between percentage of habitat and number of patches with species richness and abundance. However, there is a positive and significant relationship between richness and diversity of landscape composition (SHDI). Our results highlight the importance of habitat diversity for parasitoid richness, with more heterogeneous habitats capable of supporting a more diverse community of parasitoids that can contribute to ecological balance and act as natural enemies of agricultural pests.