ANT FAUNA ASSOCIATED WITH AREAS UNDER THE DIRECT IMPACT OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL

Junir Antônio Lutinski; Cristiano Ilha; Cladis Juliana Lutinski; Leandro Baucke; Milton de Filtro; Maria Assunta Busato; Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia

doi:10.5327/Z2176-947820170196

Authors

Junir Antônio Lutinski University of Chapecó Region (Unochapeco) http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0149-5415
Cristiano Ilha Regional Health Management of Santa Catarina state https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8868-8791
Cladis Juliana Lutinski Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1512-8763
Leandro Baucke Impacto Ambiental Advisory https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7727-4817
Milton de Filtro Impacto Ambiental Advisory https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5165-5096
Maria Assunta Busato University of Chapecó Region (Unochapeco) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0043-7037
Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0493-1788

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-947820170196

Keywords:

ants; environment; environmental health; forests.

Abstract

Ants can be important tools to assess the conditions of a given environment,
as well as to monitor restoration of degraded areas. This study evaluated the
richness and abundance of ant assemblages associated with areas directly
impacted by the construction of small hydropower plants in the State of
Paraná. To survey the ant fauna, samples were collected in September 2014
and January 2015 using pitfall and malaise traps. The association of the ant
fauna composition with fragments and seasonality was analyzed by detrended
correspondence. Fifty-eight species of ants were registered. The subfamily
Myrmicine and the genus Camponotus were the most abundant (S= 25, S = 10, respectively). The removal of vegetation and formation of lakes in
the directly affected area cause impacts that can be monitored based on the
results of this study.