Efeito da mudança do uso do solo sobre a comunidade de besouros melolonthidae coleoptera: scarabaeoidea em ecossistemas de florestas tropicais

Abstract

The conversion of tropical forests into pastures and agricultural crops poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Beetles of the family Melolonthidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) play essential ecological roles and are sensitive to environmental changes, making them valuable bioindicators for assessing the impacts of landscape transformations. This study investigates how land use, landscape parameters, and altitudinal gradients influence the species richness, abundance, and biomass of Melolonthidae assemblages in different tropical ecosystems. Sampling was conducted in forests, pastures, and agricultural crops (peach palm and coffee) in the Amazon and montane forests of Mexico. In total, 3,586 individuals from 72 species were collected over 12 months in the Brazilian Amazon, while 509 specimens from 41 species were recorded in Mexico. Forest remnants supported greater species richness, especially of Rutelinae, while pastures favored the abundance and biomass of Dynastinae and Melolonthinae, indicating the potential of these groups as agricultural pests. Coffee plantations exhibited the lowest beetle diversity and abundance. Forest cover was the main positive factor for species richness, while edge density influenced total assemblage abundance. Additionally, landscape diversity increased the abundance of Dynastinae and Rutelinae. Along the altitudinal gradient of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, species richness and abundance increased with elevation in forests but showed no relationship in pastures. Beta diversity was similar between systems, suggesting species turnover along the altitude gradient, regardless of land use. The results indicate that forest conversion alters the structure of Melolonthidae communities, reducing diversity and modifying abundance patterns. Beyond providing insights for biodiversity conservation, this study has direct implications for plant protection, as it identifies habitats where certain Melolonthidae species may become agricultural pests. Management strategies should balance the conservation of large forest fragments and landscape diversification to mitigate the impacts of pests associated with land conversion. Understanding the effects of environmental changes on Melolonthidae assemblages is crucial for the sustainable management of biodiversity and crop protection in tropical landscapes affected by human activities. Keywords: Ecological community. Landscape ecology. Crop pests. Ecosystem services. Ecological management.