Edaphic Bioindicators of Urban Forest Fragments in the City of São Paulo (SP)

Abstract

The research evaluated the soil biodiversity and soil quality in urban forest fragments of the city of São Paulo (SP), especially in the Cientec, Cantareira and Jaraguá parks, using edaphic specimens as indicators of environmental change. The variables, pH, CO, K, P, Ca, Mg, and Al were observed, respecting the true replication of the environments (n = 3). Sampling plots of 1.68 ha were randomly delineated: soil samples and invertebrates associated to the soil-litter interface by pitfall traps (Pitfall-Trap). Concentrated collect in the summer (02/2014) and winter (09/2014) at the environment level (with presence and absence of drainage) was carried out in the study areas. Families and morphospecies of spiders (Araneae) and beetles (Coleoptera) were identified. The multivariate analysis showed that there is a separation between the studied environments and which families and morpho-species were most associated with each analyzed variable. The reduction of acidity, increase or decrease of the content of C.O and Al and high availability of macronutrients (P, K, Ca and Mg), were the most environmentally-sensitive variables that preserved interaction with the increase or detriment of organisms, explaining their distribution in environments and seasons. The diversity index of Shannon (H), the richness and diversity of the collected organisms were influenced by the alternation of environments and seasons of the year. The organisms behaved as sensitive ecological indicators of environmental and changes in Atlantic Forest.