Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The main aim of this study was to analyze the composition and structure of the diatom community (Bacillariophyceae) in the River Vacacaí hydrographic basin, Santa Maria municipal district, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and its relation to physical and chemical variables, related to water quality. Monthly field trips were carried out between June 2011 and July 2012 in six sampling stations along the river course, in order to collect epilithic diatoms in natural substrates as well as water samples. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the communities were performed on permanent glass slides under a light microscope. The relative abundance of diatom species was obtained from the count of at least 600 valves on each slide, as well as identification of taxa to species and variety levels. The following water quality variables were also measured: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, suspended solids (SS), conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. The results were compared to the water use categories determined by the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA) in a resolution issued in 2005. Multivariate techniques (cluster, canonical correspondence and indicator species analyses) and community structure parameters (species richness, Shannon‟s Diversity Index, determination of abundant and dominant species in each sample) were used in order to describe environmental and biological patterns found. 171 species were identified in total. Multivariate analyses resulted in grouping of the sampling stations rather than sampling dates, with the upstream sections separated from the downstream zones. The latter were characterized by higher values of BOD, COD and conductivity, as well as the dominance of diatoms species typical of pollutes sites such as Sellaphora pupula, Nitzschia palea, Gomphonema parvulum and Cocconeis placentula. At the most polluted site, species richness and diversity indices were significantly lower than at the remaining sampling stations. Human activities, markedly sewage effluents are pointed as the main causes of water quality degradation. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a composição e estrutura das comunidades de algas diatomáceas (Bacillariophyceae) na Bacia hidrográfica do Vacacaí, município de Santa Maria RS, Brasil e sua relação com alguns parâmetros físicos e químicos, inferindo sobre a qualidade d‟água. Foram realizadas coletas mensais de diatomáceas epilíticas e de água no período de junho de 2011 a junho de 2012, em seis pontos de amostragem. Para estipular a percentagem relativa foram contadas 600 valvas em cada lâmina. Efetuou-se também análises da demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), pH, sólidos suspensos (SS), condutividade, turbidez e oxigênio dissolvido. Os parâmetros foram comparados com as classes de uso da água prevista na resolução do Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente (CONAMA 357/2005). No processamento da informação, empregou-se uma análise de componentes principais (PCA), análise de agrupamento, análise de correspondência canônica (CCA), análise de espécies indicadoras, análises de diversidade, riqueza e foram também determinadas as espécies abundantes e dominantes de acordo com o critériode Lobo & Leighton (1986). Ao todo 171 espécies foram identificadas. A análise estatística utilizada se complementa, podendo observar-se uma separação espacial, onde pontos a montante foram separados de pontos a jusante, sendo que os pontos a jusante foram correlacionados com maiores valores de DBO, DQO e condutividade e caracterizaram-se pela dominância de espécies de diatomáceas típicas de locais poluídos como Sellaphora pupula, Nitzschia palea, Gomphonema parvulum e Cocconeis placentula. No ponto considerado o mais poluído a riqueza específica e diversidade é significativamente menor que nos demais pontos. As atividades humanas, especialmente o lançamento de esgotos são responsáveis pela alteração da qualidade d‟água.

Em função de seu importante papel funcional e de sua posição de transição entre o ambiente marinho e terrestre, os ecossistemas estuarinos vêm sendo objeto de estudo das mais diversas áreas do conhecimento. Entretanto, poucos são os estudos destinados ao entendimento da biogeoquímica e gênese de seus solos. Os compostos de ferro e enxofre são tidos como de importância chave para os ciclos biogeoquímicos ativos nestes ambientes, principalmente pelo fato de a redução bacteriana do sulfato (RBS) ser considerada como a forma de respiração preponderante nestes locais. O ciclo biogeoquímico destes elementos se encontra, entretanto, governado pelas variações físico-químicas do meio devido a variações incessantes em função da freqüência de inundação pelas marés, das diferentes estações climáticas e da atividade da fauna e da flora presentes nestes ambientes. Diante do escasso número de informações sobre estes solos pretende-se, em um estudo biogeoquímico detalhado dos solos de mangue do Estado de São Paulo, gerar informações adicionais sobre a gênese destes solos e avaliar os efeitos das variações sazonais, da atividade biológica (plantas e macro-fauna) e das distintas posições fisiográficas dentro dos manguezais, sobre a biogeoquímica do Fe e S. Para isso, foram realizadas análises morfológicas, químicas, mineralógicas (DRX e MEV), determinações na água intersticial (pH, salinidade, concentrações de Mn2+, Fe2+, HS-, SO4 2-e Cl-) e na fase sólida (COT, Fe total, S total, Mn total, AVS, C biomassa microbiana, densidade de raízes vivas e mortas, porcentagem de areia e extração seqüencial das diferentes formas de Fe) em diferentes perfis sob vegetação de mangue do Estado de São Paulo (Guarujá e Cananéia). Com base nas evidências obtidas neste estudo fica evidente a ação de processos pedogenéticos nos substratos de mangue (adição de matéria orgânica, translocação de Fe2+ e de partículas minerais e a transformação de elementos como Fe e S) os quais devem, portanto, ser denominados, entendidos e estudados como solos e não como sedimentos. Os resultados sugerem a oxidação das frações pirítica e AVS pela ação do sistema radicular das plantas e pela atividade da macro-fauna, principalmente caranguejos, evidenciando ainda a presença de um ciclo sazonal na biogeoquímica do Fe e S o qual se mostra, em grande parte, governado pela ação das plantas e da macro-fauna. Foram encontradas diferenças drásticas entre as condições geoquímicas da água intersticial dos solos e sedimentos de mangue estudados, sendo estas devidas a um maior dinamismo dos processos biogeoquímicos atuantes nos solos, ocasionado pelo efeito das plantas (oxidação, liberação de exudatos pelas raízes). Os resultados obtidos apontam que a participação e a intensidade de cada um dos processos ligados à decomposição da matéria orgânica nos solos de mangue podem variar em função das distintas posições fisiográficas, devido a seus efeitos sobre a freqüência e duração de inundação e composição granulométrica dos solos. Os resultados indicam também, que a ocorrência ou a dominância de um processo sobre os demais afeta de forma significativa a composição das fases sólida e líquida dos solos de mangue, no que se refere ao Fe e S. / Due to the important functional role of mangrove forest communities and their transitional position between marine and terrestrial environments, these ecosystems have been the object of study by a variety of scientific disciplines; however, there are only a few published studies on the genesis and biogeochemistry of its soils. Iron and sulfur compounds play a key role on the active biogeochemical cycles in these environments, mainly because sulfate reduction is considered the preponderant respiration process in these sites. The biogeochemical cycles of these elements are, however, ruled by physicochemical variations constantly generated by tide flooding, different climatic seasons and fauna and flora activity. Considering the scarce information about these soils, a detailed biogeochemical study of mangrove sites located in the State of São Paulo was undertaken to generate additional information on the genesis of these soils and also to evaluate the effects of seasonal variations, biological activity (plants and macrofauna) and physiographic positions on Fe and S biogeochemistry. Morphological, chemical and mineralogical data (XRD and SEM) were examined for evidence of pedogenic processes; interstitial water (pH, salinity, concentrations of Mn2+, Fe2+, HS-, SO4 2-e Cl-) and solid phase (TOC, total Fe, total S, total Mn, AVS, microbial biomass C, density of living and dead roots, sand percentage and sequential extraction of Fe) analysis were undertaken in different soil profiles under mangrove vegetation from São Paulo State (Guarujá and Cananéia) to asses Fe and S biogeochemistry. The evidences presented in this study indicate that pedogenic processes (addition of organic material; translocation of Fe2+ and mineral particles; transformation of elements such as Fe and S) have occurred in mangrove substrates and that these substrates are more properly referred to, understood and studied as soils and not sediments. Results also evidence that pyrite and AVS oxidation is taking place in response to plants and macro-fauna activity and that the seasonal cycle of Fe and S biogeochemistry is mostly ruled by plants and macro-fauna. Results indicate important differences between physicochemical conditions of the pore water in the vegetated (soils) and non-vegetated (sediment) zones, which are related to the faster dynamics of the biogeochemical soil processes caused by the effect of plants (oxidation, liberation of the exudates by the roots). Our data also show that the contribution and intensity of each process coupled to organic matter mineralization in mangrove soils may vary significantly between the distinct physiographic positions. These variations are generated by physiographic positions effects on frequency and duration of tidal flooding and grain size composition of soils. In this context, the occurrence, or dominance, of one process over the others, affects, in a significant way, pore water and solid phases chemistry.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:04/04148-3

Background: Social entrepreneurship has lately gained wide recognition as a promising avenue to develop market-driven solutions to improve lives of the marginalised. While identified as an emerging topic in academics, literature is still limited and heavily biased towards the context of western countries. Further, little is known about how social enterprises interact with the supportive ecosystem to develop their organisations and ensure financial viability while attending their social mission. Thus, the Philippines was chosen as the location of the study, a developing country plagued by social problems, but simultaneously harbouring a growing ecosystem that support social enterprises in their quest to address them. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how the development of New Generation Social Enterprises (NewGen SE) is enabled by the surrounding ecosystem in the context of the Philippines. It further aims to identify factors constraining the progress of NewGen SE, and how the ecosystem can be enhanced to better support these enterprises. Method: The data for this qualitative study has been collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. In total, twenty interviews were conducted: ten entrepreneurs from three different development stages (start-up, growth & mature), and ten ecosystem actors. The data has been analysed and interpreted using a general inductive approach. Conclusion: The networks of both the entrepreneurs and the ecosystem actors enable social enterprises to access resources, expertise, and foster collaboration. Challenges on both the macro and micro level are hindering social enterprises to grow, resulting in only a few success stories. To enhance the support for social enterprises more collaboration within and outside the ecosystem should be fostered through the implementation of more intersections such as physical and online spaces where people can connect.

abstract: More than half of all accessible freshwater has been appropriated for human use, and a substantial portion of terrestrial ecosystems have been transformed by human action. These impacts are heaviest in urban ecosystems, where impervious surfaces increase runoff, water delivery and stormflows are managed heavily, and there are substantial anthropogenic sources of nitrogen (N). Urbanization also frequently results in creation of intentional novel ecosystems. These "designed" ecosystems are fashioned to fulfill particular needs of the residents, or ecosystem services. In the Phoenix, Arizona area, the augmentation and redistribution of water has resulted in numerous component ecosystems that are atypical for a desert environment. Because these systems combine N loading with the presence of water, they may be hot spots of biogeochemical activity. The research presented here illustrates the types of hydrological modifications typical of desert cities and documents the extent and distribution of common designed aquatic ecosystems in the Phoenix metropolitan area: artificial lakes and stormwater retention basins. While both ecosystems were designed for other purposes (recreation/aesthetics and flood abatement, respectively), they have the potential to provide the added ecosystem service of N removal via denitrification. However, denitrification in urban lakes is likely to be limited by the rate of diffusion of nitrate into the sediment. Retention basins export some nitrate to groundwater, but grassy basins have higher denitrification rates than xeriscaped ones, due to higher soil moisture and organic matter content. An economic valuation of environmental amenities demonstrates the importance of abundant vegetation, proximity to water, and lower summer temperatures throughout the region. These amenities all may be provided by designed, water-intensive ecosystems. Some ecosystems are specifically designed for multiple uses, but maximizing one ecosystem service often entails trade-offs with other services. Further investigation into the distribution, bundling, and tradeoffs among water-related ecosystem services shows that some types of services are constrained by the hydrogeomorphology of the area, while for others human engineering and the creation of designed ecosystems has enabled the delivery of hydrologic ecosystem services independent of natural constraints. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Biology 2010

abstract: Over the past century in the southwestern United States human actions have altered hydrological processes that shape riparian ecosystems. One change, release of treated wastewater into waterways, has created perennial base flows and increased nutrient availability in ephemeral or intermittent channels. While there are benefits to utilizing treated wastewater for environmental flows, there are numerous unresolved ecohydrological issues regarding the efficacy of effluent to sustain groundwater-dependent riparian ecosystems. This research examined how nutrient-rich effluent, released into waterways with varying depths to groundwater, influences riparian plant community development. Statewide analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of effluent generation and release revealed that hydrogeomorphic setting significantly influences downstream riparian response. Approximately 70% of effluent released is into deep groundwater systems, which produced the lowest riparian development. A greenhouse study assessed how varying concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, emulating levels in effluent, influenced plant community response. With increasing nitrogen concentrations, vegetation emerging from riparian seed banks had greater biomass, reduced species richness, and greater abundance of nitrophilic species. The effluent-dominated Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona, with a shallow groundwater upper reach and deep groundwater lower reach, served as a study river while the San Pedro River provided a control. Analysis revealed that woody species richness and composition were similar between the two systems. Hydric pioneers (Populus fremontii, Salix gooddingii) were dominant at perennial sites on both rivers. Nitrophilic species (Conium maculatum, Polygonum lapathifolium) dominated herbaceous plant communities and plant heights were greatest in effluent-dominated reaches. Riparian vegetation declined with increasing downstream distance in the upper Santa Cruz, while patterns in the lower Santa Cruz were confounded by additional downstream agricultural input and a channelized floodplain. There were distinct longitudinal and lateral shifts toward more xeric species with increasing downstream distance and increasing lateral distance from the low-flow channel. Patterns in the upper and lower Santa Cruz reaches indicate that water availability drives riparian vegetation outcomes below treatment facilities. Ultimately, this research informs decision processes and increases adaptive capacity for water resources policy and management through the integration of ecological data in decision frameworks regarding the release of effluent for environmental flows. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Plant Biology 2011

Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation have increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, reactive nitrogen, and other greenhouse gases. As a result, Earth's surface has warmed by 0.85 °C since the pre-industrial era and will continue to warm. Many northern latitude temperate forest ecosystems mitigate the effects of both elevated carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition through retention of carbon and nitrogen in plants and soils. However, the continued ability of these ecosystems to store carbon and nitrogen will be altered with continued climate change. Warmer winters will lead to reduced depth and duration of snowpack, which insulates soils from cold winter air. Climate change over the next century will therefore affect soil temperatures in northern temperate forests in opposing directions across seasons, with warmer soils in the growing season and colder, more variable soil temperatures in winter. Warmer growing seasons generally increase ecosystem uptake and storage of carbon and nitrogen, whereas a smaller snowpack and colder soils in winter reduce rates of ecosystem nutrient cycling and plant growth. My dissertation aims to understand how climate change in the growing season and winter interact to affect function and nitrogen cycling in northern hardwood forest ecosystems. I accomplished this goal through formal literature review and two climate change manipulation experiments at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH. I found that although 67% of climate change experiments were conducted in seasonally snow covered ecosystems, only 14% take into account the effects of distinct climate changes in winter. By simulating climate change across seasons, I demonstrated that changes in nitrogen cycling caused by increased soil freezing in winter are not offset by warming in the growing season. Moreover, shifts in plant function due to winter climate change are mediated through a combination of changes in snow depth, soil temperature, and plant-herbivore interactions that differentially affect above- and belowground plant components. These results would not be evident from examining climate change in either the growing season or winter alone and demonstrate the need for considering seasonally distinct climate change to determine how nitrogen and carbon cycling will change in the future.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-30T13:13:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ELIS GEAN ROCHA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2018.pdf: 5120765 bytes, checksum: 11074ea88b01e31806a1d0befc8974ef (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-30T13:13:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ELIS GEAN ROCHA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2018.pdf: 5120765 bytes, checksum: 11074ea88b01e31806a1d0befc8974ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02 / Capes / As águas urbanas passam por diversas intervenções no processo de desenvolvimento das cidades, sofrendo, muitas vezes, impactos negativos devido à ausência de planejamento e saneamento básico. A eutrofização, causada pelo enriquecimento dos corpos hídricos por nutrientes advindos de despejos de esgotos sem tratamento é um dos grandes problemas das águas superficiais urbanas. Tendo em vista a necessidade do desenvolvimento sustentável das cidades, continuamente procura-se por alternativas para o tratamento de águas poluídas que possam atuar de forma harmônica com a paisagem urbana. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a construção de um sistema de jardins flutuantes para a remediação das águas do pequeno açude localizado no campus sede da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande – PB. O experimento foi realizado numa área experimental de 400 m² de espelho d’água, a montagem do sistema se dividiu em três etapas, atingindo no final da terceira etapa uma cobertura superficial de 10%. As estruturas modulares foram construídas com bambu e paletes, sendo utilizadas diferentes espécies de plantas aquáticas e ornamentais e substrato de fibra de coco. O monitoramento foi feito por coletas semanais, em 13 pontos distribuídos na área experimental. Os parâmetros analisados foram: temperatura, pH, turbidez, condutividade elétrica, OD, DBO, DQO, clorofila-a, fósforo total, ortofosfato solúvel. Em relação às estruturas dos jardins, aquelas que não apresentaram problemas de estabilidade e flutuação, tiveram bons resultados e proporcionaram o bom desenvolvimento das plantas. As análises estatísticas dos dados mostraram que na área em estudo, houve variações significativas em todos os parâmetros estudados, apresentando resultados positivos de remoção de matéria orgânica e nutrientes em alguns dos dias monitorados. As interferências ambientais na área em estudo, como a precipitação e as cargas de efluentes, dificultaram a análise de eficiência dos jardins na qualidade da água, mas, apesar disso, foram encontrados resultados importantes. / Urban waters go trough many intervencions during the process of development of cities. Many times suffering negative impacts due to absence of planning and basic sanitation. Eutrophication caused by enrichment of water bodies by nutrientes from sewage dumping without treatment is one of the great problems of superficial urban waters. Because of the need for sustainable development in cities and the search for alternatives for the treament of polluted waters, this study has the objective of constructing a system of floating gardens to treat the waters of the pond located on the main campus of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil. The experiment was performed on área, area of 400m2 of the superficial lawyer of the the pond. The building of the system was divided into three stages; at the end of the third stage, 10% of the superficial area was covered, modular structures were built with bamboo and pallets. Different species of ornamental aquatic plants and cocunut fiber substrate were used. Monitoring was performed weekly by collections from 14 points distributed throughout the experimental área. The parameters analyzed were; temperature, pH, turbidity, electric conductivity, DO, BOD, COD, clorophyl-a, total phophorus, soluble orthoposphate, TNK, amoniacal nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, VDS, FDS. The structures of the gardeens that did not present problems with stability and flotation had good results and promoted good development. Statistical analysis of the data revealed in the study area, there were significant variations in all the studied parameters, presenting positive results of organic matter and nutrients removal in some of the monitored days. As environmental interferences in the study area, such as precipitation as effluent loads, made it difficult to analyze the efficiency of gardens in water quality, but despite this, important results were found.

A herbivoria por grandes mamíferos é um fator decisivo no direcionamento de comunidades vegetais, influenciando o crescimento, sobrevivência e reprodução das plantas. Os ungulados, quando exóticos, podem impactar os ecossistemas diferentemente de herbívoros nativos, gerando maiores efeitos nas comunidades de plantas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar se a presença de búfalos (densidade de 1 animal/ha) impacta as assembléias de plântulas e de arbustos numa floresta estacional semidecídua no sul do Brasil, além de inferir consequências para a manutenção da comunidade vegetal. Para isso realizamos duas abordagens no município de Sentinela do Sul: na primeira, estabelecemos um experimento de exclusão de bubalinos (duração de 14 meses) e na segunda, comparamos três áreas com presença e protegidas desses herbívoros por três e dez anos. Em ambas as abordagens, registramos as seguintes variáveis ecológicas: riqueza, altura média de plantas, cobertura vegetal, diversidade (Shannon), e biomassa. No experimento de exclusão, nenhuma das variáveis apresentou diferenças significativas perante presença e ausência de búfalos (após 14 meses). Na comparação das três áreas as comunidades vegetais mostraram diferenças qualitativas (composição de espécies) no contraste presença versus dez anos de exclusão de búfalos, e as variáveis riqueza e altura média sofreram, respectivamente, significativos incremento e decréscimo. A diferença observada para o incremento de diversidade de zero a dez anos de exclusão foi marginalmente significativa e a compactação do solo apresentou decréscimo em função do tempo de exclusão do gado. Portanto , os resultados do presente trrabalho indicam que as manchas florestais não respondem à remoção de búfalos em baixas densidades no curto prazo e, na ausência de grandes herbívoros, a floresta tende a incrementar sua complexidade via aumento de riqueza e diversidade. / Herbivory by large mammals is a key factor in plant communities, and has effects on growth, survival and reproduction of plants. Ungulates, when exotic, impact ecosystems in a different way compared to the native ones, and may have a more pronounced effect on plant communities. In this study we evaluated buffalo (1 animal/ha density) impact on the seedling and shrub assemblages in a semideciduous seasonal forest in southern Brazil and checked if such impact would affect plant community maintainability. To address these aims we conducted two studies in Sentinela do Sul County: 1. we established a buffalo exclusion experiment (during 14 months) and 2. compared three areas with presence and protected against these herbivores for three and ten years. In both studies, we measured the following ecological variables: plant cover, richness, diversity (Shannon), biomass and average height. In the exclusion experiment, any ecological variable showed significant differences between buffalo presence and absence plots. When the three areas were compared, the communities showed qualitative differences (species composition) in the contrast presence versus ten years of buffalo exclusion, and richness and average height showed, respectively, increase and decrease. The difference observed for an increase of diversity between zero and ten years exclusion was marginally significant, and soil compactation showed retraction in relation to livestock exclusion time. We conclude that forest spots don’t answer in short-term to low densities buffalo removal and, in the absence of large herbivores, the forest tends to develop its complexity by richness and diversity increase, in a long-term basis.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 463574 bytes, checksum: 52b88461433a1562228c123de46287af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / With the increasing species loss, a new question emerged on the rule of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning. Thus, this work aimed evaluate if litter species richness affects positively decomposition and nutrient release rates and if this relationship is made by increasing arthropods abundance and/or species richness separated or no into the guilds fungivores, detritivores and predators. So, it was verified the effects of plant richness and composition on arthropods composition. The increase of plant species richness leaded to increase of decomposition and nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and carbon rates. Furthermore, it leaded to increase arthropods abundance at all and of the fungivores guild and this increase leaded to increased decomposition rate. Arthropods composition didn’t differed between samples with different plant species richness, but there was an increase on arthropods composition similarity with the increasing plant composition similarity. These results indicate that plant species richness affects decomposition and nutrient release and that relation is made by the increasing arthropods abundance, mainly fungivores. Fungivores affect decomposition on a positive way. Besides, arthropods seem to be selective, since different species are related to different plant species. / O aumento da perda de espécies tem levado à expansão de um novo questionamento acerca da importância da biodiversidade sobre o funcionamento dos ecossistemas. Assim, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar se a riqueza de espécies de plantas na serapilheira afeta positivamente as taxas de decomposição e de liberação de nutrientes. Além disso, pretendeu-se verificar se esta relação se dá através do aumento da abundância e/ou da riqueza de espécies total de artrópodes, e/ou separados nas guildas de detritívoros, fungívoros e predadores. Também foi verificada a influência da riqueza e da composição de espécies de plantas sobre a composição de artrópodes. A riqueza de espécies de plantas afetou positivamente as taxas de decomposição e de liberação de nitrogênio, fósforo, cálcio e carbono. Além disso, influenciou positivamente a abundância de artrópodes como um todo e da guilda de fungívoros. Este aumento da abundância, em ambos os casos, levou a um aumento da taxa de decomposição. A composição de artrópodes não diferiu entre amostras com diferentes riquezas de espécies de plantas, mas houve um aumento da similaridade da composição de artrópodes com o aumento da similaridade de plantas. Estes resultados indicam que as espécies de plantas afetam de modo único a decomposição e a liberação de alguns nutrientes e que esta relação pode se dar através do aumento da abundância de artrópodes como um todo e/ou da guilda de fungívoros. Além disso, sugerem a importância da separação criteriosa das guildas de artrópodes e de sua análise individual. Ainda, os artrópodes parecem ser seletivos, uma vez que diferentes espécies de artrópodes estão relacionadas a diferentes espécies de plantas no substrato.