published_or_final_version / abstract / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The savanna is an important biome, which is under threat from land transformation, and it is therefore a focus for conservation planning. Yet, the invertebrate fauna of this biome is poorly documented and hence there is a need to provide baseline data for this component of biodiversity. This project aimed to provide relevant information that can be used by conservation planners and ecologists, by recommending a sampling strategy for the collection of specific taxa for savanna invertebrate surveys. The effectiveness and efficiency of a sampling strategy using passive and active sampling methods was assessed to provide recommendations for a multi-taxa approach to sampling invertebrates in a savanna ecosystem. In the collection of data, volunteers assisted and they were evaluated in comparison with experienced researchers to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and benefits of using volunteers to carry out multi-taxa invertebrate surveys. In addition, cross-taxon congruency and congruency across taxonomic levels were assessed between nine invertebrate taxa, to select potential surrogates to reduce biodiversity survey costs for conservation planning. Fieldwork was carried out in the Mkhuze Game Reserve (27.67°S:32.27°E, 400km2 ), Phinda Private Game Reserve (27.78°S:32.35°E, 140km2 ) and False Bay Park (27.94°S:32.38°E, 25km2 ) in north-eastern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Forty-three different sites were sampled between November 2002 and March 2005 (summer months). Twenty of these sites were re-sampled across years and in different months during the summer season, giving 77 sampling events. Fifty-four volunteers recruited by the Earthwatch Institute assisted in the collection of data. Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera (Apoidea), Diptera (Asilidae, Bombyliidae), Neuroptera, Odonata, Hemiptera (Cicadellidae), Coleoptera (Cetoniinae, Scarabaeinae), Orthoptera, Blattodea, Isoptera, Araneae (Araneidae, Thomisidae, Oxyopidae), Scorpionida, Myriapoda (Diplopoda, Chilopoda), Mollusca and Annelida were sampled using four active searching methods (transects, tree beating, leaf litter and sweep sampling) and two passive methods (pan traps and baited traps). In its entirety, this project sampled 50 558 individuals from 797 invertebrate species and an extensive database consisting of 33 257 records now exists. A standardised sampling protocol is described for the effective sampling of multiple invertebrate taxa in a savanna biome and recommendations are made for improving the efficacy and completeness of invertebrate surveys based on the application of species accumulation models. Restrictive active searching methods (quadrats) were found to be more effective for sampling epigaeic invertebrates and should be used in conjunction with leaf litter samples. Flying and plant-dwelling invertebrates should be sampled using a range of sampling methods which include baited, malaise and pan traps, active searching along transects and vacuum sampling. I suggest over 75% of the Lovel/, s.1. - MSc. Thesis i ii total estimated fauna to be a satisfactory and realistic level of inventory completeness for making valid comparisons between regions and across sites. Volunteers sampled lower rates of species accumulation, species richness and unique species when using timed, active search methods. Nevertheless, volunteers and researchers were shown to perform equally well when using un-timed, active searching methods. Previous experience or knowledge of scientific method was beneficial when researchers assessed the perceived usefulness of volunteers to researchers for carrying out fieldwork. The project experience raised the volunteers' environmental awareness, knowledge about biodiversity, invertebrates and conservation research, and enabled volunteers to participate in or design locally relevant conservation based projects on their return home. Cross-taxon congruencies were observed. However, relationships were weak and potential surrogates could not be selected. The use of higher taxonomic levels to represent species shows good potential as a surrogate but only in species-poor genera or families. The use of species density to determine congruency and select surrogates is likely to produce different results to those produced by community similarity. Furthermore, when selecting surrogates from congruency assessments an optimal p-value greater than 0.75 should be required. Below this value, the relationship is likely to be weak and if used as a surrogate misinterpretation may occur. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Birds have been widely used as bioindicators. In this study we face the use of birds as bioindicators of metal pollution in two different scenarios of contamination: one that takes place in an aquatic environment, the Ebro river basin, and a second that occurs in a terrestrial environment, the Bolivian Andes. In the case of the Ebro river basin, the pollution threat is a factory located at the river bend, close to Flix, that due to its long operational activity and along with the construction of a dam next to the plant around 1960, resulted in the accumulation of 200,000–360,000 tons of industrial wastes in the riverbed, occupying an area of 700 m of length and 60 m of width. In this study case we evaluated whether aquatic birds such as the Purple Heron reflect the potential pollutant exposure from Flix Reservoir among different riverine and deltaic areas, and assess their usefulness as bioindicators. Also we examined if the polluted wastes of Flix reservoir affect the levels of pollution of the habitats where waterbird populations of the Ebro Delta (situated 90 km downstream) forage and feed. As results stable isotopes shown the high nitrification and lower carbon signatures in the river, and together with the niche width metrics, that Common and Sandwich Tern behave as strict specialists at the Ebro Delta, with narrow niche widths, while in the opposite way, Little Tern, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Night Heron and the Moorhen behave like generalists foragers, with broad niche widths. Mercury levels in nestlings of Purple Heron at Flix site and eggs of Audouin’s Gull, Little Tern and Common Tern ‘Banya’ at the Ebro Delta are high enough to be of special concern. Arsenic (specially used in combination with carbon signatures) discriminates outstandingly between marine and freshwater species. Both eggs and nestling feathers of Purple Herons are adequate bioindicators for trace element pollution, but nestling feathers present certain advantages. The six selected blood parameters (TOSC ROO*, TOSC OH*, BhCE, CbE, LDH and MN) provide the first evidence of an association of biological responses with pollutants in heron species. The second study case takes place in Bolivia. Anthropogenic mining has taken place in the Bolivian Andes since at least the fifteenth century. Particularly the East of Oruro Department in the Eastern Andean Cordillera is affected by a long term history of mining. These mining activities were characterized by the deposition of large tailing piles, which accumulated in abandoned and active mines, where trace metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and antimony could reach surface waters and soils, and so the biota. In this case we evaluated the potential of Tinamou species as sentinels of exposure to local trace metal pollution and studied different routes of lead accumulation into the sentinel species, in order to assess the usefulness of feather levels as a measure of the exposure to this pollutant. As results we found that the detected small home ranges detected in Ornate Tinamou (lower than 1 km2) and their sedentary habits make of this species an adequate bioindicator of local pollution. We recommend feathers for future monitoring programs as they are a non invasive sample. Higher rates of histopathological damage were found in kidney at the polluted sites. We detected high levels of trace elements detected at the polluted sites in the two studied species of Tinamou (Ornate and Darwin Tinamou), many of them trespassing hazard levels. The calamus is the most suitable section for assessing the original endogenous lead levels in feather samples. / En este estudio las aves serán utilizadas como bioindicadoras de contaminación por metales pesados en dos escenarios diferentes: el primero en un ambiente acuático, la cuenca del rio Ebro, mientras que el segundo tiene lugar en un ambiente terrestre, los Andes bolivianos. En el primer caso la fuente de contaminación es una fábrica localizada cerca de Flix, que produjo cientos de toneladas de lodos tóxicos. Así evaluamos si aves acuáticas como la Garza imperial reflejan la exposición potencial a los contaminantes de Flix entre zonas fluviales y deltaicas, comprobando su utilidad como bioindicadoras, y también examinamos si dichos residuos afectan a la contaminación de los hábitats donde la avifauna del Delta del Ebro se alimenta. Como resultados los isótopos estables mostraron la alta nitrificación y signaturas más bajas de carbono en el río y observamos que el Charrán común y patinegro actúan como especialistas en el Delta, mientras que Charrancito, Garceta común, Garza Imperial, Martinete y Gallineta de agua son generalistas, presentando amplios nichos tróficos. El mercurio en volantones de Garza Imperial en Flix y huevos de Gaviota de Audouin, Charrancito y Charrán común “Banya” en el Delta presentan valores alarmantes. El arsénico discrimina claramente entre especies marinas y dulceacuícolas. Ambos huevos y plumas son bioindicadores adecuados de contaminación, pero las plumas presentan más ventajas. El segundo estudio tiene lugar en los Andes Bolivianos, donde la actividad minera ha dado lugar a la acumulación de residuos. Evaluamos el potencial de las especies de Tinamúes como bioindicadoras de la exposición a dicha contaminación, incluyendo las diferentes vías de acumulación de plomo en las especies bioindicadoras. Como resultados, los pequeños territorios detectados y hábitos sedentarios hacen del Tinamú Pisacca un bioindicador adecuado de la contaminación local. Se recomienda el uso de plumas al son una muestra no invasiva. El mayor daño histopatológico se encontraron en muestras de riñón de las zonas contaminadas. La contaminación minera ha quedado de manifiesto con los altos niveles detectados en las dos especies estudiadas de Tinamú. El cálamo es la sección más adecuada para la evaluación de los niveles originales endógenos de plomo.

Global declines in amphibian species have directed research towards investigating why this is happening. One of the major causes of these declines is the fragmentation and loss of habitat. This study examined the effect of land use on the species composition of frogs within North Eastern KwaZulu-Natal, and the use of buffer zones to facilitate the protection of these species. Three land use types were investigated: sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), gum (Eucalyptus sp.) plantations and conservation areas. The average number of frog species differed between areas: conservation 13.2 ± 6.6; plantations 3.8 ± 1.3; and sugar cane 2.8 ± 1.4. Sugar and gum plantation were found to be lacking the wetland and grassland/woodland habitats. In addition to this, the frog species that were not present on these land use types were those that are totally dependent on water as well as those that are not dependent on a water source. Two species were highlighted as possible indicator species of land use: Amietophrynus gutturalis and Hyperolius marmoratus. To mitigate the effect of these land use types, the use of buffer zones was explored in a desktop study. A range of buffer zones were applied to wetlands in a sample study area, using a range of distances including the distances of 290 m and 159 m recommended by Semlitsch and Bodie (2003), and the recommended distances for wetlands in South Africa of 10-20 m. The application of a 290 m and 159 m buffer zone on a conglomerate of wetlands connected by a 100m buffer was the most feasible as it incorporated a percentage of the total study (6.4% and 4.3%) area similar to the percentage occupied by the recommended 20m buffer zone (5.5%) around all wetlands, and still incorporated the range under protection put forward by Semlitsch and Bodie (2003). Management implications of these findings are discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

The South African grassland biome is disappearing rapidly through advancing development and change in agricultural land use. One of the most threatened grassland types, Midlands Mistbelt, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an extremely diverse and home to many endemic species across an array of taxa. Three taxa, namely, grasses, grasshoppers and butterflies represent various trophic levels, which are important to the functioning of the grasslands. Ten grasslands were sampled by walking ten fifty metre transects for a twelve-month period. The grasslands were selected as they represented a range of management practices and varying environmental conditions. Using Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) twenty-two species of grasshopper were identified as indicators of environmental variables and management practices. The abundances of the various species indicated the intensity of the management regimes or disturbances. Using the twenty-two grasshopper species abundances and a three hundred point sampling assessment of the grasses creates an assessment tool that can rapidly appraise the management of the grassland, but due to lack of data for other taxa, cannot assess whether management practices for the focal taxa create congruent results for non-focal taxa. Two of the three taxa proved to be good indicators of grassland health, whilst the third, butterflies were ineffectual, due to low abundance and richness. From the results it was concluded that burning was taking place to frequently, and required a reduction to every four years, as this would improve butterfly richness and abundance, and increase abundance of endemic and flightless grasshopper speCies. A rotational grazing system needs to be implemented at sites where continual grazing takes place, wildlife or livestock, impacts on the grassland condition and species diversity. Increasing habitat heterogeneity increases species diversity, and allows later successional species to be included in the grasshopper assemblage. Management of the grasslands in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands needs to be more responsive and adaptive. In addition, small fragment management needs to be intensified to provide a range of habitats and refugia that will suit all species. This study advocates the use of grasshoppers and grasses as suitable biotic indicators of grasslands in the KwaZuluNatal Midlands. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

CAPES / A água é fundamental para o equilíbrio ecológico e manutenção da vida, entretanto perturbações de diferentes magnitudes têm alterado seriamente sua qualidade. Nesse sentido, diversas metodologias de análise buscam mensurar o seu grau de contaminação, utilizando avaliação de parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos. Reservatórios podem ser classificados como ecossistemas semi-lóticos originados a partir do represamento de rios e a distribuição de organismos nesse corpo hídrico é influenciada pelas características físicas, químicas e interações biológicas e ecológicas. O reservatório do rio Verde localiza-se na divisa dos municípios de Campo Largo e Araucária, Estado do Paraná. O presente estudo teve por finalidade a caracterização física e química de água e sedimentos, assim como avaliação da macrofauna nectônica e bentônica em quatro pontos do reservatório ao longo das quatro estações climáticas entre os anos de 2013 e 2014. Quanto aos parâmetros físicos e químicos, todos à exceção da matéria orgânica encontram-se dentro dos valores preconizados por legislações pertinentes. A macrofauna do reservatório mostrou-se rica e diversificada. Ao total foram coligidos 1880organismos, sendo 938 exclusivamente no sedimento. Ao longo do período amostral foi registrada a presença de táxons bioindicadores, assim como organismos de importância médica e ecológica. De acordo com o teste de regressão linear múltipla, os fatores significativos para a distribuição da comunidade bentônica foram pH, temperatura da água, oxigênio dissolvido, saturação de oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade, material em suspensão (total, orgânico e inorgânico), turbidez, clorofila-a, nitrito, nitrato, matéria orgânica, umidade, fósforo e nitrogênio totais e as frações granulométricas areia média, areia fina e silte/argila. Já para a composição de guildas tróficas, foram registrados cinco grupos: coletores, predadores, raspadores, filtradores e fragmentadores. A partir do teste de regressão linear não-paramétrica, foram consideradas significativas as variáveis turbidez, profundidade e as frações granulométricas. O resultado dos índices de qualidade BMWP' e Diversidade de Shannon-Wiener sugere poluição moderada, resultado que complementa o obtido exclusivamente pelas análises físicas e químicas, corroborando a importância da inclusão da avaliação das comunidades aquáticas e bentônicas em programas de monitoramento ambiental. / Water is essential to the ecological balance and maintenance of life, however disturbances of different magnitudes have seriously affects their quality. In this sense, various analysis methodologies seek to measure the rate of contamination using evaluation of physical, chemical and biological parameters. Reservoirs can be classified as semi-lotic ecosystems originated from the damming of rivers and the distribution of organisms in this water body is influenced by physical, chemical and biological/ecological interactions. The Verde river reservoir is located on the borderland of the cities of Campo Largo and Araucaria, Parana State. The present study aimed the physical and chemical characterization of water and sediment, as well the evaluation of aquatic and benthic macroinvertebrates in four sample points along four seasons in the reservoir between the years 2013 and 2014. Relative to the physical and chemical parameters, all except organic matter are within the recommended values for relevant legislation. The macrofauna of the reservoir proved to be rich and diverse. A total of 1880 organisms were collected, with only 938 in the sediment. Over the sample period was recorded the presence of bioindicators taxa as well organisms of medical and ecological importance. According to the multiple linear regression model, the significant factors for the distribution of the benthic community were pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, dissolved oxygen saturation, conductivity, suspended matter (total, organic and inorganic), turbidity, chlorophyll- a, nitrite, nitrate, organic matter, humidity, phosphorus and total nitrogen and grain size medium sand fractions, fine sand and silt/clay. For the composition of trophic guilds, were registered five groups: collectors, predators, scrapers, slicers, filterers and shredders. From the non-parametric linear regression test, were considered significant the variables turbidity, depth and granulometric fractions. The result of the quality index BMWP ' and Shannon -Wiener Diversity suggests moderate pollution, a result that complements that obtained exclusively by physical and chemical analysis, corroborating the importance of including the assessment of aquatic and benthic communities in environmental monitoring programs.

A agricultura ocupa uma grande área do território brasileiro, interagindo com praticamente todos os grandes biomas. O manejo do solo, aliado ao uso de agrotóxicos e de fertilizantes, pode contribuir para o desequilíbrio da fauna edáfica, trazendo impactos que podem influenciar na harmonia do ecossistema do solo. O revolvimento do solo o expõe à radiação solar, que pode influenciar na abundância de espécies e os fertilizantes de base sintética desequilibram os níveis de nutrientes do solo, impactando na dinâmica dos organismos. Os agrotóxicos contaminam e causam mortalidade de diversos organismos. Na tentativa de melhor analisar esses impactos, foram escolhidos quatro diferentes sistemas de uso do solo: Olericultura Orgânica (OO), Olericultura Convencional (OC), Lavoura Convencional (LC) e uma região de fragmento de Floresta Nativa (FN), com repetições verdadeiras, na região metropolitana de Curitiba, no município de Quitandinha-PR, com os objetivos: avaliar o potencial dos enquitreídeos como bioindicadores em áreas de diferentes sistemas de uso do solo (SUS); identificar os fatores que influenciam a abundância e diversidade desses organismos nestes diferentes sistemas; avaliou-se o potencial reprodutivo destes organismos expondo-os em amostras de solos provenientes das áreas dos sistemas de uso do solo (SUS) estudados, em condições laboratoriais; foi também avaliado em ensaios laboratoriais com uso de solo artificial tropical (SAT) o impacto do glifosato na reprodução dos enquitreídeos sob concentrações baseadas nas recomendações do fabricante e das quantidades comumente utilizadas na região. Nossos resultados mostraram que houve diferença significativa na abundância entre FN e LC, e a riqueza de gêneros sofreu redução de seis para dois, respectivamente. Dentre os atributos do solo encontrados nas análises físico-químicas, as áreas de florestas (FN) apresentaram pH mais baixo, matéria orgânica e potássio mais altos que nos outros sistemas estudados, e menor quantidade de fósforo do que as áreas de plantio convencional (LC e OC). Os ensaios ecotoxicológicos em condições laboratoriais mostraram que o número de juvenis de Enchytraeus sp produzidos em solo das áreas estudadas foi maior em solo de FN do que LC, em concordância com os dados de abundância. Os ensaios ecotoxicológicos com glifosato em solo artificial tropical reduziu significativamente a reprodução, mesmo em concentrações no solo equivalentes a doses recomendadas, sugerindo que esse herbicida popular pode ser deletério aos enquitreídeos e, portanto, deve ser usado com cautela. Os resultados sugerem que a abundância e riqueza de enquitreídeos são bons indicadores do uso do solo na região estudada e que a espécie autóctone Enchytraeus sp respondeu satisfatoriamente em ensaios laboratoriais para avaliar a qualidade do solo. / Agriculture occupies a large area of the Brazilian territory, interacting with the major biomes. Soil management, the use of pesticides and fertilizers can contribute to the imbalance of the biota, the soil fauna, impacting the harmony of the whole soil ecosystem. The soil disturbance in plowing and disking exposes the soil fauna to the sun' radiation, which can be harmful to of species in this environment. Synthetic fertilizers can unbalance levels of soil nutrients, directly impacting the dynamics of organisms. The pesticides can be deleterious to the living organisms in the soil. This study aims to evaluate potential of the enchytraeids as soil management indicators in areas of horticulture and grain farming and to identify which factors influence the abundance and diversity of these worms in different land use systems (SUS); It also aims to assess the potential of the enchytraeids to respond to the natural soil quality of the areas of study and the toxicity of recommended doses of the most used pesticide (glyphosate) in laboratory tests; Four land use systems (SUS) in Quitandinha – PR were chosen for the present study: Organic Vegetable Crops (OO), Conventional Vegetable Crops (OC) and Conventional tillage (LC), Native Forest (FN) with true repetitions. The abundance of enchytraeids was statistically higher in FN than LC, while the richness of genera reduced from six to two, respectively. Among the soil attributes, forest areas had lower pH, organic matter, nitrogen and higher potassium than other SUS in the other SUS and lower amount of phosphorus than the areas of conventional tillage. In ecotoxicological tests under laboratory conditions the number of juveniles of Enchytraeus sp produced in soil of the areas studied for 21 days of incubation were higher in soils from FN than LC. in agreement to field abundance data. Ecotoxicological tests with gliphosate in concentrations based on doses used by the agricultures in the area sudied showed that in artficial soil, even concentrations equivalent to recommended doses may reduce reproduction significantly, suggesting this popular herbicide may be harmful to enchytraeids and should be used with caution. The results suggest the abundance and richness of genera are good indicators of soil use systems in the area studied and that the autochthonous enchytraeid Enchytraeus sp responded well to laboratory tests to evaluate soil quality.

CAPES / Com o passar do tempo, a humanidade começou a se dar conta dos impactos negativos que o mundo moderno ocasionou ao meio ambiente. O bioma Mata Atlântica é um dos biomas mais ricos em biodiversidade, abrangendo mais de 60% de todas as espécies do planeta. Este bioma cobria cerca de 15% do território brasileiro, restando atualmente apenas 7 % de seus remanescentes florestais totalmente fragmentados. É o bioma que mais sofreu com a modernização e as fortes pressões antrópicas no Brasil. Por conta desta degradação ambiental, na segunda metade do século XIX houve uma mudança de pensamento, dando-se maior ênfase na conservação de algumas paisagens naturais, com a pretensão de afastar o homem da natureza ainda preservada. Baseado nos modelos preservacionistas americanos criou-se as Unidades de Conservação da Natureza. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a qualidade ambiental do Parque Estadual Vitório Piassa, uma Unidade de Conservação situada no município de Pato Branco - PR. A qualidade ambiental foi avaliada através do uso de bioindicadores de qualidade ambiental bem como foram identificadas algumas pressões socioambientais que o Parque vem sofrendo ao longo dos anos. Besouros da família Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) foram utilizados como os organismos bioindicadores. Para comparar as áreas mais conservadas e as áreas mais degradadas do Parque, foram delimitados três locais específicos dentro do fragmento de Mata Atlântica, onde por meio de armadilhas de quedas (Pitfall) os insetos foram capturados e identificados quanto a suas espécies e gêneros. Foram feitas duas coletas nos meses de fevereiro e março do ano de 2015, o que resultou em 945 indivíduos distribuídos em 22 espécies de nove gêneros diferentes. Em seguida, a população de besouros de cada área foi classificada com base em medidas ecológicas como riqueza de espécies, abundância de indivíduos de cada espécie, por meio de índices de diversidade (Shannon e Simpson) para identificar as diferenças entre os grupos amostrados e equitabilidade (Pielou) para medir a distribuição da abundância total entre as espécies de cada área. Para atender ao objetivo de identificar as pressões socioambientais que ocorrem no PEVP, foram coletadas evidências através de fotografias, observação a campo, imagens aéreas e conversas com a população residente no parque. Do mesmo modo, se fez pertinente tomar por base o projeto em execução pelo município, para a construção de infraestrutura para visitação pública. Estes dados serviram de subsídios para confrontar a situação atual do parque e a legislação brasileira vigente para as UC’s de Proteção Integral, evidenciando os conflitos socioambientais existentes no parque, envolvendo questões políticas e a proximidade da Unidade de Conservação com a área urbana da cidade. / Over time, humanity began to realize the negative impact that the modern world has caused to the environment. The Atlantic Forest is one of the richest biomes in biodiversity, covering more than 60% of all species on the planet. This biome covered about 15% of the Brazilian territory, leaving currently only 7% of its fully fragmented forest remnants. This was the biome that suffered most from modernization and strong anthropogenic pressures in Brazil. For the account of environmental degradation, in the second half of the nineteenth century there was a shift in thinking, giving greater emphasis on conservation of some natural landscapes, with the intention of removing the man still preserved nature. Based on American models of conservation there were created the Nature Conservation Units. This study aimed to analyze the environmental quality of the State Park Vitório Piassa, a Conservation Unit located in the city of Pato Branco - PR. The environmental quality was measured by use of bio-indicators and some environmental pressures that the Park has suffered over the years also were identified. Beetles of the familiy Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were used as the bioindicators. To compare the most conserved areas and the most degraded areas of the Park, three specific sites were defined within the Atlantic Forest fragment, these insects were captured with pitfall traps and identified as to their species and genera. There were two collections in February and March 2015, which resulted in 945 individuals in 22 species and nine different genus. Then the population of beetles in each area were classified based on ecological measures such as species richness, abundance of individuals of each species through diversity index (Shannon and Simpson) to identify the differences between the sampled groups and equitability (Pielou) to measure the distribution of the total abundance of the species in each area. To meet the objective of identifying the environmental pressures that occur in PEVP, evidence were collected through photographs, watching the field, aerial images and conversations with the resident population in the park. Similarly, if made relevant to build on the project running by the municipality for the construction of infrastructure for public viewing. These data served as subsidies to confront the current situation of the park and the current Brazilian legislation for UC's of full protection, highlighting the existing socio-environmental conflicts in the park, involving political issues and the proximity of the Conservation Unit with the urban area of the city.

Deforestation for the acquisition of land for agriculture and livestock is a major impacting activities in tropical ecosystems. The study of ants as biological indicators is a useful tool in evaluating the condition and degradation in terrestrial and in monitoring areas in the restoration process. This work aimed to study the soil ants communities in two areas reforested with native plant species: ZRI (7 years) and ZRII (5 years), and a native forest fragment (FMN) in good condition, located near the Laranjeiras city in the Sergipe State, in February (dry season) and June (rainy season) 2012. We estimated the wealth and the degree of similarity between areas, the effect of sampling time on ant species richness and identification of indicator species successional stage. To collect the ant was demarcated five transects (20 x 50m), spaced at 150 meters. In each transect was installed five traps "pitfall" without bait 10 meters apart from each other on each parcel, totaling 25 traps/area/season. Traps were buried with the opening at ground level and remained installed for 48 hours. We sampled 82 morphospecies of ants distributed in 31 genera and seven subfamilies. The richness of ants did not differ among the three study areas (F = 1.71, p = 0.19), however, the species richness of ants was higher in the dry period (F = 10.85, p = 0.0027). Through the analysis of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), two distinct groups were formed, a group of parcels of native forest fragment and another group of two reforested areas. The composition of ant communities did not differ between forested areas, but significant difference between those with the last forest remnants of native bush. Current work made possible the appointment of a group of species that were the main contributors to the dissimilarity between the environments. The results demonstrate that ants have great potential for use as biomarkers, it is possible to infer about the restoration of the communities through the study of these organisms, and also highlights the importance of conservation of natural environments to maintain the biodiversity of native ants / O desmatamento visando a aquisição de áreas para agricultura e a pecuária é uma das principais atividades impactantes em ecossistemas tropicais. O estudo das formigas como indicadores biológicos é uma ferramenta útil na avaliação do estado de conservação e de degradação em ambientes terrestres e no monitoramento de áreas em processo de restauração. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo, estudar as comunidades de formigas epigéicas em duas áreas reflorestadas com espécies vegetais nativas: ZRI (7 anos) e ZRII (5 anos), e em um fragmento de mata nativa (FMN) em bom estado de conservação, localizadas próximas a cidade de Laranjeiras-SE, nos meses de fevereiro (período seco) e junho (período chuvoso) de 2012. Foram estimadas a riqueza e o grau de similaridade entre as áreas, o efeito da época de amostragem na riqueza de espécies de formigas e a identificação das espécies indicadoras de estágio sucessional. Para a coleta dos formicídeos foram demarcados cinco transectos (20 x 50m), distanciados em 150 metros. Em cada transecto instalou-se 5 armadilhas do tipo pitfall sem isca distanciadas de 10 metros uma da outra em cada parcela, totalizando 25 armadilhas/área/época. As armadilhas foram enterradas com a abertura ao nível do solo e permaneceram instaladas por 48 horas. Foram amostradas 82 morfoespécies de formigas distribuídas em 31 gêneros e sete subfamílias. A riqueza de formigas não diferiu entre as três áreas estudadas (F=1,71; p=0,19), entretanto, a riqueza de espécies de formigas foi maior no período seco (F=10.85; p=0,0027). Através da análise de escala multidimensional não-métrica (NMDS), dois grupos distintos foram formados, um grupo das parcelas do fragmento florestal de mata nativa e outro grupo das duas áreas reflorestadas. A composição das comunidades de formigas não diferiu entre as áreas reflorestadas, mas houve diferença significativa entre essas últimas com a área do fragmento florestal de mata nativa. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos possibilitaram a indicação de um grupo de espécies que foram as principais contribuintes para a dissimilaridade entre os ambientes. Os resultados demonstram que as formigas apresentam grande potencial para serem utilizadas como bioindicadores, sendo possível inferir sobre a recuperação de ambientes através do estudo das comunidades desses organismos, além de evidenciar a importância da conservação de ambientes naturais para a manutenção da biodiversidade de formigas nativas