Epigeických beetle communities were studied on four agroecosystems with different crops grown. All four agroecosystems were located in the vicinity of Czech Budejovice (South Bohemia). The first agroecosystem is conventionally grown corn. On the second one agroecosystem it was conventionally grown wheat. The third agroecosystem was barley and the fourth was permanent grassland. Individual agroekosystems differed not only in crops but also in agrotechnical operations during the capture. In all agroecosystems was for capture of the material used method of pitfall traps. Subsequently, those types have been studied. Then was studied degree of human impact on the biodiversity of species of different ecological groups found in these locations.Beetle activity was highest in the maize agroecosystem. There was found almost half of all captured individuals. In all agroecosystems was activity affected by management of agrotechnic operations and also by for that year specific weather. All sites were completely dominated by expansive species (E - types of deforested habitats strongly influenced by human activities)

Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’influence des conditions locales et paysagères sur la structuration des communautés d’arthropodes en agroécosystèmes, ceci grâce à un dispositif de suivi situé en Ille-et-Vilaine (Bretagne, France), et comprenant des parcelles conduites en agriculture biologique et conventionnelle spatialement appariées. Notre première étude a mis en évidence que l’hétérogénéité paysagère, parfois en interaction avec le système local de culture, conditionne la diversité et l’abondance des groupes trophiques, à la fois pour les arthropodes au sol comme pour ceux de la végétation. Dans un second temps, nous avons pu montrer l’importance du contexte paysager dans la structuration des assemblages d’arthropodes prédateurs, et émis l’hypothèse que les mécanismes déterminant la distribution des espèces diffèrent fortement entre araignées et carabiques. Enfin, il est apparu la nécessité de distinguer les individus résidents (émergeants) des individus mobiles (circulants) lorsque l’on s’intéresse au rôle différentiel des facteurs locaux vs. paysagers dans la structuration des communautés de carabiques. D’une façon générale, nos résultats montrent donc une influence importante et positive de l’agriculture biologique sur les populations, assemblages d’espèces et communautés d’arthropodes, que ce soit à des échelles locales et paysagères comme en interaction avec d’autres variables paysagères. Nous avons également montré la pertinence de l’utilisation de différents niveaux d’organisation et variables réponses associées pour évaluer finement la structure et le fonctionnement de communautés d’Arthropodes en agroécosystèmes. / In this study, we got interested in quantifying how local and landscape metrics structure arthropod communities in agro-ecosystems. For that, we used a long-term monitoring design located in ‘Ille-Et-Vilaine’ (Brittany, France), composed by spatially pair-matched fields under organic vs. conventional farming systems. First, we found that landscape heterogeneity, also interacting with farming systems, drives the diversity and abundance of trophic groups for both ground- and vegetation-dwelling arthropods. In a second chapter, we showed the importance of landscape context in shaping assemblages of predatory arthropods, and suggested that mechanisms behind the distribution of individual species strongly differ between spiders and carabids. Lastly, we highlighted the importance of distinguishing between resident (emergent) and mobile (circulating) individuals when assessing the differential role of local vs. landscape factors in community assembly. Overall, our results show a strong and positive effect of organic farming on arthropod populations, assemblages and communities, both at local and landscape scales, as well as in interaction with other landscape metrics. We also highlighted the relevance of using different levels of biological organization, and related response variables, when assessing the structure and functioning of arthropod communities in agroecosystems

Recentemente, tornou-se acessível a análise filogenética com base em caracteres contínuos. Isso amplia a quantidade de caracteres que podem ser utilizados em análises filogenéticas baseadas em morfologia, mas não há ainda um consenso sobre como esse tipo de caráter deve ser codificado e analisado. Este trabalho analisa o uso de caracteres contínuos em filogenias com dois diferentes enfoques: simulações em computador e aplicação em uma análise com dados reais. As simulações realizadas indicam que de fato pode-se recuperar filogenias com base em caracteres contínuos, com alguns cuidados. O mais importante deles é o uso de pesagem implícita. Mesmo com esse cuidado, os ramos pouco suportados podem ser incorretos, provavelmente devido a um efeito de atração de ramos longos. Na análise do gênero Anchylorhynchus, utilizei caracteres discretos e contínuos, em separado e combinados. As árvores obtidas com as matrizes separadas são bastante diferentes, e a árvore da matriz combinada é semelhante àquela obtida somente com os caracteres discretos. O suporte dos ramos, contudo, cresce com a adição dos caracteres contínuos. Os caracteres contínuos, portanto, não devem ser vistos como uma alternativa, mas como um acréscimo às análises tradicionais. A revisão taxonômica de Anchylorhynchus resultou na descrição de nove espécies novas e reconhecimento de quatro sinônimos novos. O gênero resultou ser um grupo monofilético com um total de 24 espécies reconhecidas. Além disso, as informações sobre a biologia e a distribuição geográfica desses gorgulhos foi atualizada. Em conjunto com a filogenia obtida, essas informações basearam reconstruções biogeográficas e da associação histórica com as plantas hospedeiras. / Recently, phylogenetic analysis based on continuous characters was made accessible. This increases the pool of characters available for morphology-based phylogenetic analyses, but there is still no consensus on how this kind of characters should be coded and analyzed. In the present study, I assessed the use of continuous characters in phylogenies from two distinct perspectives: computer simulations and an application to real data. The simulations indicate that one can indeed recover phylogenies based on continuous characters, given some precautions. The most important of them is the use of implied weighting. Even when this is done, poorly supported branches may be incorrect, probably due to long-branch attraction. For the phylogenetic analysis of Anchylorhynchus, I used both continuous and discrete characters, separately or combined. Trees obtained with separate matrices were significantly different, and the combined matrix resulted in a tree very similar to the tree obtained with discrete characters alone. Branch supports, however, increased with the addition of continuous characters. Continuous characters, therefore, should not be considered an alternative to traditional analyses. Rather, they should be added to discrete-character matrices. The taxonomic revision of Anchylorhynchus resulted in nine new species described and four new synonyms recognized. The genus resulted to be a monophyletic group containing 24 recognized species. Moreover, the information on weevils\' biology and geographical distribution was updated. Together with the phylogeny this information embased reconstructions of host relationships and biogeography.

No description available.

<p>This thesis documents the development and application of a unique database orientated software package, BugsCEP, for environmental and climatic reconstruction from fossil beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages. The software tools are described, and the incorporated statistical methods discussed and evaluated with respect to both published modern and fossil data, as well as the author’s own investigations.</p><p>BugsCEP consists of a reference database of ecology and distribution data for over 5 800 taxa, and includes temperature tolerance data for 436 species. It also contains abundance and summary data for almost 700 sites - the majority of the known Quaternary fossil coleopteran record of Europe. Sample based dating evidence is stored for a large number of these sites, and the data are supported by a bibliography of over 3 300 sources. Through the use of built in statistical methods, employing a specially developed habitat classification system (Bugs EcoCodes), semi-quantitative environmental reconstructions can be undertaken, and output graphically, to aid in the interpretation of sites. A number of built in searching and reporting functions also increase the efficiency with which analyses can be undertaken, including the facility to list the fossil record of species found by searching the ecology and distribution data. The existing Mutual Climatic Range (MCR) climate reconstruction method is implemented and improved upon in BugsCEP, as BugsMCR, which includes predictive modelling and the output of graphs and climate space maps.</p><p>The evaluation of the software demonstrates good performance when compared to existing interpretations. The standardization method employed in habitat reconstructions, designed to enable the inter-comparison of samples and sites without the interference of differing numbers of species and individuals, also appears to be robust and effective. Quantitative climate reconstructions can be easily undertaken from within the software, as well as an amount of predictive modelling. The use of jackknifing variants as an aid to the interpretation of climate reconstructions is discussed, and suggested as a potential indicator of reliability. The combination of the BugStats statistical system with an enhanced MCR facility could be extremely useful in increasing our understanding of not only past environmental and climate change, but also the biogeography and ecology of insect populations in general.</p><p>BugsCEP is the only available software package integrating modern and fossil coleopteran data, and the included reconstruction and analysis tools provide a powerful resource for research and teaching in palaeo-environmental science. The use of modern reference data also makes the package potentially useful in the study of present day insect faunas, and the effects of climate and environmental change on their distributions. The reconstruction methods could thus be inverted, and used as predictive tools in the study of biodiversity and the implications of sustainable development policies on present day habitats.</p><p>BugsCEP can be downloaded from http://www.bugscep.com</p>

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This thesis introduces the use of molecular methods for the conservation of several species of endangered saproxylic beetles in Europe. It focuses on the questions related to the DNA preservation and microsatellites development, as well as the evolutionary history and conservation of threatened species. Using the combination of mitochondrial and nuclear markers, the genetic diversity and reintroduction history of Cerambyx cerdo was assessed and the phylogeography of Rosalia alpina from the whole range of its distribution was studied. This information is valuable for designing more efficient conservation strategies.

A conversão de áreas de vegetação nativa em monoculturas florestais tem sido uma prática bastante empregada no Sul do Brasil. No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, a região dos Campos de Cima da Serra tem tido sua paisagem original modificada por esta prática, principalmente nas últimas décadas. Muitos organismos são bons indicadores deste tipo de alteração ambiental, dentre eles os artrópodos. Os insetos são adequados para uso em estudos de avaliação de impacto ambiental e de efeitos de fragmentação florestal, pois, além de ser o grupo animal mais numeroso, com elevadas densidades populacionais, também apresentam grande diversidade, em termos de espécies e de habitats. Nosso estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a influência dos subbosques de diferentes fisionomias vegetais de uma Floresta Ombrófila Mista manejada do Sul do Brasil sobre a comunidade de insetos deste sub-bosque; bem como verificar se a estrutura do habitat dessas fisionomias vegetais pode influenciar os padrões da comunidade entomológica. Investigamos se a abundância, a riqueza e a composição da comunidade de insetos modificaram-se de acordo com a fisionomia vegetal. Também foi nosso objetivo avaliar se as diferentes fisionomias vegetais dessa Floresta e as suas estruturas do habitat estão relacionadas com a estrutura trófica da comunidade de coleópteros de sub-bosque. Foram comparados quatro ambientes florestais distintos: áreas de floresta com Araucaria (FA), plantações de Araucaria angustifolia (PA), plantações de Pinus spp. (PP) e plantações de Eucalyptus spp. (PE). Para cada fisionomia vegetal houve três áreas com duas unidades amostrais de 25m × 2m cada. As coletas foram realizadas com o método do guarda-chuva entomológico, medindo 1m × 1m, no período de setembro de 2003 a agosto de 2004. A estrutura do sub-bosque em cada área foi avaliada através da contagem de toques da vegetação em alturas de 1m e 2,5 m de altura. Os insetos foram identificados em nível de ordem, e os pertencentes à ordem Coleoptera foram identificados até o nível de família. Foram coletados 6519 indivíduos correspondentes as seguintes ordens de Insecta: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera e Thysanoptera. As ordens mais abundantes foram Hymenoptera, Coleoptera e Psocoptera. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de insetos. A composição das ordens de Insecta apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, entretanto não houve diferenças significativas na riqueza entre as áreas. Houve maior freqüência de toques de vegetação arbórea na Floresta com Araucaria, e a plantação de Pinus apresentou maior freqüência de toques de lianas e pteridófitas. Quanto ao grupo Coleoptera foram coletados 1222 indivíduos correspondentes a 34 famílias. As famílias mais abundantes foram Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae e Nitidulidae. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de coleópteros. Entretanto, os maiores valores de riqueza foram encontrados no plantio de Eucalyptus e na floresta nativa. A composição das famílias de Coleoptera apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, com exceção do plantio de Eucalyptus e a floresta nativa. A FA apresentou associação com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto PP associou-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Áreas com predominância de arbustos e árvores associaram-se com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto áreas com predominância de lianas e pteridófitas associaram-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Este estudo constatou que apesar de haver diferenças na abundância e na composição da comunidade de insetos de sub-bosque, não houve diferença na riqueza para os níveis taxonômicos estudados. / The conversion of native vegetation into wood monoculture has been a very common practice in southern Brazil. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the original landscape of Campos de Cima da Serra region has been modified by this practice, mainly in the last decades. Many organisms are good indicators of this type of environment disturbance, arthropods are among them. Insects are adequate for being used in studies that evaluate environmental impact and effects of forest fragmentation because, besides being the most numerous animal group, with high population densities, they also present great diversity of species and habitats. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of the understory of different vegetation physiognomies of a managed mixed ombrophylous forest in southern Brazil, upon the insect community. Additionally, we investigated whether the habitat structure of these vegetation physiognomies may be influencing insect community patterns, and whether the different vegetation physiognomies of this forest and its habitat structures are correlated to the trophic structure of the understory community of coleopterans. Four distinct forest environments were compared: Araucaria forest (FA), Araucaria angustifolia plantation (PA), Pinus spp. Plantation (PP) and Eucalyptus spp. plantation (PE). Inside each vegetation physiognomy there were three areas with two sampling units of 25 m x 2 m each. The sampling was carried out using the beating sheet method, with a 1 m x 1 m canvas sheet, from September 2003 to August 2004. We investigated whether abundance, richness and composition of the insect community shifted according to the vegetation physiognomy. The individuals of Insecta were identified up to order level, and those belonging to Coleoptera were identified up to family level. Total sample comprised 6,519 individuals, which belonged to the following orders: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera and Thysanoptera. The most abundant orders were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Psocoptera. The Brazilian Pine and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of insects. The composition of the insect community presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies; however, there were no significant differences of richness among areas. There was a higher frequency of touches of arboreal vegetation in the forest with Brazilian pine, and Pinus forests presented higher frequency of touches of liane and pteridophyte. As for group Coleoptera, 1,222 individuals were collected corresponding to 34 families. The most abundant families were Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae and Nitidulidae. Araucaria and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of coleopterans. However, the greatest richness values were found in the Eucalyptus plantation and in the native forest. The composition of the coleopteran families presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies, except for Eucalyptus plantation and native forest. FA presented correlation to herbivore coleopterans, whereas PP was correlated to detritivore and carnivore. Areas with predominance of shrubs and trees were correlated to herbivore coleopterans, whereas areas with predominance of liane and pteridophyte were correlated to detritivore and carnivore coleopterans. This study verified that in spite of differences in abundance and composition of the understory insect community, there were no differences of richness for the taxonomic level evaluated herein.

A conversão de áreas de vegetação nativa em monoculturas florestais tem sido uma prática bastante empregada no Sul do Brasil. No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, a região dos Campos de Cima da Serra tem tido sua paisagem original modificada por esta prática, principalmente nas últimas décadas. Muitos organismos são bons indicadores deste tipo de alteração ambiental, dentre eles os artrópodos. Os insetos são adequados para uso em estudos de avaliação de impacto ambiental e de efeitos de fragmentação florestal, pois, além de ser o grupo animal mais numeroso, com elevadas densidades populacionais, também apresentam grande diversidade, em termos de espécies e de habitats. Nosso estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a influência dos subbosques de diferentes fisionomias vegetais de uma Floresta Ombrófila Mista manejada do Sul do Brasil sobre a comunidade de insetos deste sub-bosque; bem como verificar se a estrutura do habitat dessas fisionomias vegetais pode influenciar os padrões da comunidade entomológica. Investigamos se a abundância, a riqueza e a composição da comunidade de insetos modificaram-se de acordo com a fisionomia vegetal. Também foi nosso objetivo avaliar se as diferentes fisionomias vegetais dessa Floresta e as suas estruturas do habitat estão relacionadas com a estrutura trófica da comunidade de coleópteros de sub-bosque. Foram comparados quatro ambientes florestais distintos: áreas de floresta com Araucaria (FA), plantações de Araucaria angustifolia (PA), plantações de Pinus spp. (PP) e plantações de Eucalyptus spp. (PE). Para cada fisionomia vegetal houve três áreas com duas unidades amostrais de 25m × 2m cada. As coletas foram realizadas com o método do guarda-chuva entomológico, medindo 1m × 1m, no período de setembro de 2003 a agosto de 2004. A estrutura do sub-bosque em cada área foi avaliada através da contagem de toques da vegetação em alturas de 1m e 2,5 m de altura. Os insetos foram identificados em nível de ordem, e os pertencentes à ordem Coleoptera foram identificados até o nível de família. Foram coletados 6519 indivíduos correspondentes as seguintes ordens de Insecta: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera e Thysanoptera. As ordens mais abundantes foram Hymenoptera, Coleoptera e Psocoptera. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de insetos. A composição das ordens de Insecta apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, entretanto não houve diferenças significativas na riqueza entre as áreas. Houve maior freqüência de toques de vegetação arbórea na Floresta com Araucaria, e a plantação de Pinus apresentou maior freqüência de toques de lianas e pteridófitas. Quanto ao grupo Coleoptera foram coletados 1222 indivíduos correspondentes a 34 famílias. As famílias mais abundantes foram Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae e Nitidulidae. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de coleópteros. Entretanto, os maiores valores de riqueza foram encontrados no plantio de Eucalyptus e na floresta nativa. A composição das famílias de Coleoptera apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, com exceção do plantio de Eucalyptus e a floresta nativa. A FA apresentou associação com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto PP associou-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Áreas com predominância de arbustos e árvores associaram-se com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto áreas com predominância de lianas e pteridófitas associaram-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Este estudo constatou que apesar de haver diferenças na abundância e na composição da comunidade de insetos de sub-bosque, não houve diferença na riqueza para os níveis taxonômicos estudados. / The conversion of native vegetation into wood monoculture has been a very common practice in southern Brazil. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the original landscape of Campos de Cima da Serra region has been modified by this practice, mainly in the last decades. Many organisms are good indicators of this type of environment disturbance, arthropods are among them. Insects are adequate for being used in studies that evaluate environmental impact and effects of forest fragmentation because, besides being the most numerous animal group, with high population densities, they also present great diversity of species and habitats. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of the understory of different vegetation physiognomies of a managed mixed ombrophylous forest in southern Brazil, upon the insect community. Additionally, we investigated whether the habitat structure of these vegetation physiognomies may be influencing insect community patterns, and whether the different vegetation physiognomies of this forest and its habitat structures are correlated to the trophic structure of the understory community of coleopterans. Four distinct forest environments were compared: Araucaria forest (FA), Araucaria angustifolia plantation (PA), Pinus spp. Plantation (PP) and Eucalyptus spp. plantation (PE). Inside each vegetation physiognomy there were three areas with two sampling units of 25 m x 2 m each. The sampling was carried out using the beating sheet method, with a 1 m x 1 m canvas sheet, from September 2003 to August 2004. We investigated whether abundance, richness and composition of the insect community shifted according to the vegetation physiognomy. The individuals of Insecta were identified up to order level, and those belonging to Coleoptera were identified up to family level. Total sample comprised 6,519 individuals, which belonged to the following orders: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera and Thysanoptera. The most abundant orders were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Psocoptera. The Brazilian Pine and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of insects. The composition of the insect community presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies; however, there were no significant differences of richness among areas. There was a higher frequency of touches of arboreal vegetation in the forest with Brazilian pine, and Pinus forests presented higher frequency of touches of liane and pteridophyte. As for group Coleoptera, 1,222 individuals were collected corresponding to 34 families. The most abundant families were Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae and Nitidulidae. Araucaria and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of coleopterans. However, the greatest richness values were found in the Eucalyptus plantation and in the native forest. The composition of the coleopteran families presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies, except for Eucalyptus plantation and native forest. FA presented correlation to herbivore coleopterans, whereas PP was correlated to detritivore and carnivore. Areas with predominance of shrubs and trees were correlated to herbivore coleopterans, whereas areas with predominance of liane and pteridophyte were correlated to detritivore and carnivore coleopterans. This study verified that in spite of differences in abundance and composition of the understory insect community, there were no differences of richness for the taxonomic level evaluated herein.

A conversão de áreas de vegetação nativa em monoculturas florestais tem sido uma prática bastante empregada no Sul do Brasil. No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, a região dos Campos de Cima da Serra tem tido sua paisagem original modificada por esta prática, principalmente nas últimas décadas. Muitos organismos são bons indicadores deste tipo de alteração ambiental, dentre eles os artrópodos. Os insetos são adequados para uso em estudos de avaliação de impacto ambiental e de efeitos de fragmentação florestal, pois, além de ser o grupo animal mais numeroso, com elevadas densidades populacionais, também apresentam grande diversidade, em termos de espécies e de habitats. Nosso estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a influência dos subbosques de diferentes fisionomias vegetais de uma Floresta Ombrófila Mista manejada do Sul do Brasil sobre a comunidade de insetos deste sub-bosque; bem como verificar se a estrutura do habitat dessas fisionomias vegetais pode influenciar os padrões da comunidade entomológica. Investigamos se a abundância, a riqueza e a composição da comunidade de insetos modificaram-se de acordo com a fisionomia vegetal. Também foi nosso objetivo avaliar se as diferentes fisionomias vegetais dessa Floresta e as suas estruturas do habitat estão relacionadas com a estrutura trófica da comunidade de coleópteros de sub-bosque. Foram comparados quatro ambientes florestais distintos: áreas de floresta com Araucaria (FA), plantações de Araucaria angustifolia (PA), plantações de Pinus spp. (PP) e plantações de Eucalyptus spp. (PE). Para cada fisionomia vegetal houve três áreas com duas unidades amostrais de 25m × 2m cada. As coletas foram realizadas com o método do guarda-chuva entomológico, medindo 1m × 1m, no período de setembro de 2003 a agosto de 2004. A estrutura do sub-bosque em cada área foi avaliada através da contagem de toques da vegetação em alturas de 1m e 2,5 m de altura. Os insetos foram identificados em nível de ordem, e os pertencentes à ordem Coleoptera foram identificados até o nível de família. Foram coletados 6519 indivíduos correspondentes as seguintes ordens de Insecta: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera e Thysanoptera. As ordens mais abundantes foram Hymenoptera, Coleoptera e Psocoptera. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de insetos. A composição das ordens de Insecta apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, entretanto não houve diferenças significativas na riqueza entre as áreas. Houve maior freqüência de toques de vegetação arbórea na Floresta com Araucaria, e a plantação de Pinus apresentou maior freqüência de toques de lianas e pteridófitas. Quanto ao grupo Coleoptera foram coletados 1222 indivíduos correspondentes a 34 famílias. As famílias mais abundantes foram Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae e Nitidulidae. As plantações de Araucaria e de Pinus apresentaram as maiores abundâncias de coleópteros. Entretanto, os maiores valores de riqueza foram encontrados no plantio de Eucalyptus e na floresta nativa. A composição das famílias de Coleoptera apresentou diferenças entre as fisionomias vegetais, com exceção do plantio de Eucalyptus e a floresta nativa. A FA apresentou associação com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto PP associou-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Áreas com predominância de arbustos e árvores associaram-se com coleópteros herbívoros, enquanto áreas com predominância de lianas e pteridófitas associaram-se com detritívoros e carnívoros. Este estudo constatou que apesar de haver diferenças na abundância e na composição da comunidade de insetos de sub-bosque, não houve diferença na riqueza para os níveis taxonômicos estudados. / The conversion of native vegetation into wood monoculture has been a very common practice in southern Brazil. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the original landscape of Campos de Cima da Serra region has been modified by this practice, mainly in the last decades. Many organisms are good indicators of this type of environment disturbance, arthropods are among them. Insects are adequate for being used in studies that evaluate environmental impact and effects of forest fragmentation because, besides being the most numerous animal group, with high population densities, they also present great diversity of species and habitats. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of the understory of different vegetation physiognomies of a managed mixed ombrophylous forest in southern Brazil, upon the insect community. Additionally, we investigated whether the habitat structure of these vegetation physiognomies may be influencing insect community patterns, and whether the different vegetation physiognomies of this forest and its habitat structures are correlated to the trophic structure of the understory community of coleopterans. Four distinct forest environments were compared: Araucaria forest (FA), Araucaria angustifolia plantation (PA), Pinus spp. Plantation (PP) and Eucalyptus spp. plantation (PE). Inside each vegetation physiognomy there were three areas with two sampling units of 25 m x 2 m each. The sampling was carried out using the beating sheet method, with a 1 m x 1 m canvas sheet, from September 2003 to August 2004. We investigated whether abundance, richness and composition of the insect community shifted according to the vegetation physiognomy. The individuals of Insecta were identified up to order level, and those belonging to Coleoptera were identified up to family level. Total sample comprised 6,519 individuals, which belonged to the following orders: Archaeognatha, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Psocoptera and Thysanoptera. The most abundant orders were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Psocoptera. The Brazilian Pine and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of insects. The composition of the insect community presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies; however, there were no significant differences of richness among areas. There was a higher frequency of touches of arboreal vegetation in the forest with Brazilian pine, and Pinus forests presented higher frequency of touches of liane and pteridophyte. As for group Coleoptera, 1,222 individuals were collected corresponding to 34 families. The most abundant families were Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae and Nitidulidae. Araucaria and Pinus plantations had the greatest abundance of coleopterans. However, the greatest richness values were found in the Eucalyptus plantation and in the native forest. The composition of the coleopteran families presented differences among the vegetation physiognomies, except for Eucalyptus plantation and native forest. FA presented correlation to herbivore coleopterans, whereas PP was correlated to detritivore and carnivore. Areas with predominance of shrubs and trees were correlated to herbivore coleopterans, whereas areas with predominance of liane and pteridophyte were correlated to detritivore and carnivore coleopterans. This study verified that in spite of differences in abundance and composition of the understory insect community, there were no differences of richness for the taxonomic level evaluated herein.