Habitat heterogeneity, richness and structure of assemblages of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in areas of cerrado in the Chapada dos Parecis, Mato Grosso state, Brazil

Ecological theory of habitat heterogeneity and limited niche-similarity assumes that more heterogeneous environments provide a greater amount and diversity of resources than simple environments, resulting in a greater diversity of species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the habitat heterogeneity on the richness of dung beetles and to examine the spatial patterns of assemblage structure in relation to patterns of habitat heterogeneity. Dung beetles were collected using pitfall traps without bait in 30 points distributed in an area of cerrado sensu lato, in the region of Tangará da Serra, MT, Brazil, including areas of cerrado sensu stricto, campo sujo, cerrad?o and gallery forest. A total of 1,291 dung beetles were collected, distributed in 16 genera and 29 species. Overall habitat heterogeneity exerted a negative effect on patterns of dung beetles richness. Higher levels of species richness were observed in areas of cerrado campo sujo, while the areas of gallery forest were the most species poor. Regarding assembly structure, it was found that the dung beetles were separated into two major groups, one formed by the presence of specialized species in forest areas and other composed of species that occurred predominantly in cerrado. In conclusion, it was found that habitat complexity influenced the distribution of dung beetles, but the level of turnover in species composition along the heterogeneity gradient was relatively weak.     

Diversity of Cetoniidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Cetoniidae is a diverse family containing approximately 4,000 species, most of which feed on flowers and fruits. In Brazil, 72 species and 24 genera are recorded. Little is known about this family in the Central region of Brazil, and no research has previously been conducted in the ecologically important Cerrado biome. In this study, we evaluated the diversity and temporal variation of the Cetoniidae in an area of the Cerrado in the Federal District (Brazil) and verified whether the abundance and species richness were influenced by climatic variables. The study was carried out in an area of Cerrado sensu stricto at Água Limpa Farm in Brasília/DF. Beetles were collected weekly from October 2013 to September 2014 using 40 traps baited with banana and pineapple fermented with sugarcane juice. A total of 398 specimens comprising 8 genera and 15 species were collected. We observed temporal variation in abundance and richness of the Cetoniidae in direct relation to the climatic characteristics of the Cerrado, with a greater number of individuals and species appearing in the rainy season. Climatic variables such as temperature and humidity appear to have a significant effect on the diversity of Cetoniidae. This is the first study conducted on this family in Central Brazil.     

Microbial Diversity in Cerrado Biome (Neotropical Savanna) Soils

The Cerrado, the largest savanna region in South America, is located in central Brazil. Cerrado physiognomies, which range from savanna grasslands to forest formations, combined with the highly weathered, acidic clay Cerrado soils form a unique ecoregion. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal RNA genes was combined with shotgun metagenomic analysis to explore the taxonomic composition and potential functions of soil microbial communities in four different vegetation physiognomies during both dry and rainy seasons. Our results showed that changes in bacterial, archaeal, and fungal community structures in cerrado denso, cerrado sensu stricto, campo sujo, and gallery forest soils strongly correlated with seasonal patterns of soil water uptake. The relative abundance of AD3, WPS-2, Planctomycetes, Thermoprotei, and Glomeromycota typically decreased in the rainy season, whereas the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Ascomycota increased. In addition, analysis of shotgun metagenomic data revealed a significant increase in the relative abundance of genes associated with iron acquisition and metabolism, dormancy, and sporulation during the dry season, and an increase in the relative abundance of genes related to respiration and DNA and protein metabolism during the rainy season. These gene functional categories are associated with adaptation to water stress. Our results further the understanding of how tropical savanna soil microbial communities may be influenced by vegetation covering and temporal variations in soil moisture.     

Sclerophylly in Qualea Parviflora (Vochysiaceae): Influence of Herbivory, Mineral Nutrients, and Water Status

Qualea parviflora Mart. (Vochysiaceae) is a deciduous tree, commonly observed in campo sujo, cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão vegetation types in Brazilian cerrado (savannas). In this study we investigated herbivory, nutritional, and water status effects on leaf sclerophylly of Q. parviflora. Twenty fully expanded leaves were taken from 10 plants in each vegetation type four times a year. Mean leaf concentration of N, P, K, Ca, C, Al, Si, and percentage of total phenols, herbivory and tannins were measured on a plant basis. Leaf specific mass (LSM) (g m^?2), a sclerophylly index, and pre-dawn leaf water potential (MPa) were also recorded. Soil samples below each tree were collected to quantify N–NO₃, N–NH₄, P, K, Mn, soil moisture, organic matter, Si, and Al. Qualea parviflora showed a LSM from 69 to 202 g m^?2 and leaves were younger and less sclerophyllous in November (beginning of rainy season). Q. parviflora inhabiting the cerradão had leaves with higher concentration of nutrients and lower sclerophylly while trees in campo sujo and cerrado sensu stricto did not show significant differences in leaf sclerophylly. The concentrations of N, P, K and tannins had an inverse relationship with leaf age. Concentration of phenols, Al, C, Ca, Si, C/N and Ca/K increased with leaf age. The concentrations of P and Ca/K ratio in leaves explained 60% of variation observed in leaf sclerophylly. We did not find any significant relationship between the level of sclerophylly and water potential or herbivory. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that predicts lower concentrations of essential macronutrients would be the main factors influencing higher sclerophylly in leaves of Q. parviflora plants in Cerrado.     

Effects of genetic variability and habitat of Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) on herbivory by free-feeding and gall-forming insects

• Background and Aims Differences in the chemical and physical traits of plants caused by both genetic and habitat characteristics may influence attack by herbivores. Leaves of Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae), a common tree of different habitats in the Brazilian Neotropical savannas (cerrado), are susceptible to severe attack by herbivorous free-living and gall-forming insects. Attack by free-living and gall-forming insects within and between populations of Q. parviflora were examined and it was determined to what extent genetic variability (detected by RAPD markers), phenotypic characteristics of the plants and habit traits influence the number of free-living and gall-forming insect species and individuals attacking the plants, and the intensity of attack.• Methods On four occasions in 2000, leaves were sampled from ten individual trees in each of three types of vegetation in the cerrado: campo sujo, cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão at the Ecological Station of Pirapitinga (ESP), in Três Marias, north-western Minas Gerais, Brazil. Genetic variability was detected by RAPD markers, and concentrations of nutrients, phenols and tannins, sclerophylly and pre-dawn water potential of leaves were measured. Water and nutrient contents in the soil below each tree characterized the habitat. The free-living and gall-forming herbivorous insects were determined.• Key Results Of 69 RAPD markers analysed, 41 were polymorphic and were used for analyses of genetic variability of Q. parviflora. Most of the variability occurred within habitats, accounting for 97·65 % of the genetic variability. Plants in the cerrado sensu stricto and campo sujo were the most similar. There were no significant associations between genetic similarity and the chemical and physical traits of Q. parviflora, or with habitat, nor was there significant correlation between phenotypic and habitat traits. Increasing concentrations of tannins and sulphur, C : N ratio and sclerophylly correlated with increasing percentage of leaf area damaged by herbivores. Decreased sclerophylly, concentration of tannins and C : N ratio, and increased concentration of nutrients in leaves correlated with increased severity of attack by gall-forming insects.• Conclusions Nutrient concentration in the soil had more influence, indirectly, on free-feeding insects than did composition of Q. parviflora leaves. However, gall-forming insects are affected more by leaf quality, attacking fewer sclerophyllous leaves, with larger nutrient but smaller tannin concentrations.Key words: Cerrado, genetic variability, gall attack, herbivory, insect galls, plant quality, Qualea parviflora, RAPD, Vochysiaceae     

Index,Vol. 34, 1999

To investigate whether similar physiognomic areas support similar faunas, the richness, similarity, and community structure of the ant fauna attracted to baits in an area of the Brazilian Cerrado sensu stricto at the core of the domain and in two Cerrado 'islands' (one of sensu stricto and another of 'cerradão') were compared. In each locality, four collecting events were performed (two during the day and two at night) capturing ants attracted to 400 sardine baits (200 in soil, 200 in vegetation). Ants of six subfamilies, 33 genera, and 121 species were identified visiting baits in the three areas (180 species estimated). The most speciose genera were Camponotus (27 species), Pheidole (13), Solenopsis (11), and Crematogaster (8). The similarity values between pair sites can be considered medium in relation to other studies. The highest value was recorded for the core area and the 'island' of Cerrado sensu stricto (Morisita-Horn = 0.57). The two Cerrado 'islands' were found to be 0.44 similar and the core area and the 'cerradão' 0.41 similar. The ordination analysis (non-metric multidimensional scaling) revealed discontinuities in species distributions between areas of Cerrado sensu stricto and 'cerradão,' and distinctive ant faunas relative to the temporal (nocturnal and diurnal) and foraging niches (ground and vegetation). The ant fauna at ground level in the 'cerradão' and Cerrado sensu stricto showed the greatest dissimilarity. The data suggest that areas of Cerrado are characterized by relatively high local ant fauna richness, and that community structure is influenced by the distance between sites and the diversity of vegetation.     

Effects of pasture implantation on the termite (Isoptera) fauna in the Central Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado)

The advance of agricultural frontier may cause the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) to disappear before 2030. This work focuses on measuring the impact of pasture implantation on a cerrado’s termite fauna. Termites were sampled in a cerrado sensu stricto and a pasture, originally cerrado. All species were classified as their feeder group, accumulation curves were made and Shannon-Wiener indexes and β diversity were calculated for both areas. Cerrado was richer than pasture and species composition differed considerably, leading β diversity to a high value. The humivorous was the most representative species, followed by grass/litter feeders, xylophagous and, less representative, the intermediates. There were more xylophagous and intermediates species on cerrado than in pasture; the grass/litter feeders were more abundant in pasture, but didn’t differed in number or species; and humivorous didn’t differed neither in richness nor in abundance. This work shows that the simplification of the habitat is indeed causing the extinction of populations that depend on some specifics resource.     

Biodiversity responses to land‐use and restoration in a global biodiversity hotspot: Ant communities in Brazilian Cerrado

Given that land‐use change is the main cause of global biodiversity decline, there is widespread interest in adopting land‐use practices that maintain high levels of biodiversity, and in restoring degraded land that previously had high biodiversity value. In this study, we use ant taxonomic and functional diversity to examine the effects of different land uses (agriculture, pastoralism, silviculture and conservation) and restoration practices on Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) biodiversity. We also examine the extent to which ant diversity and composition can be explained by vegetation attributes that apply across the full land management spectrum. We surveyed vegetation attributes and ant communities in five replicate plots of each of 13 land‐use and restoration treatments, including two types of native vegetation as reference sites: cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão. Several land‐use and restoration treatments had comparable plot richness to that of the native reference habitats. Ant species and functional composition varied systematically among land‐use treatments following a gradient from open habitats such as agricultural fields to forested sites. Tree basal area and grass cover were the strongest predictors of ant species richness. Losses in ant diversity were higher in land‐use systems that transform vegetation structure. Among productive systems, therefore, uncleared pastures and old pine plantations had similar species composition to that occurring in cerrado sensu stricto. Restoration techniques currently applied to sites that were previously Cerrado have focused on returning tree cover, and have failed to restore ant communities typical of savanna. To improve restoration outcomes for Cerrado biodiversity, greater attention needs to be paid to the re‐establishment and maintenance of the grass layer, which requires frequent fire. At the broader scale, conservation planning in agricultural landscapes, should recognize the value of land‐use mosaics and the risks of homogenization.     

Effects of abandoned Eucalyptus plantations on lizard communities in the Brazilian Cerrado

The rapid expansion of human altered landscapes affects biodiversity on every continent. A fundamental goal of conservation biologists is to understand why certain species are at risk of extinction while others are able to persist in human altered landscapes. Afforestation, the conversion of unforested lands to planted forest, is rapidly altering many natural landscapes worldwide. In the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), a global biodiversity hotspot, a shortage of government incentives has the landscape riddled with abandoned plantation forests that are not subject to active restoration projects. Studies investigating the impacts of abandoned plantations on biodiversity are strikingly limited. We examine the effects of abandoned Eucalyptus plantations on the structure of Cerrado lizard communities. We assessed changes in lizard capture, richness and equitability along cerrado sensu stricto—Eucalyptus transects. Our results indicate abandoned Eucalyptus plantations have subsets of Cerrado species persisting with a great loss of endemic species. The cerrado sensu stricto—Eucalyptus linear transect analysis demonstrated distance from native habitat is positively correlated with loss of biodiversity. We performed correspondence analyses to summarize the variation in species captures across different sites, habitats and pitfall array positions. These analyses depicted strong species associations between habitats and their pitfall array positions. This study is the first to show the negative impacts of abandoned Eucalyptus plantations on Cerrado lizard communities, serving as a cautionary tale of Cerrado biodiversity non-resilience in abandoned Eucalyptus plantations. Mitigation requires that abandoned Eucalyptus plantations are made more suitable to Cerrado lizards by implementing targeted habitat heterogeneity restoration.     

Abundance and Distribution of Native and Alien Grasses in a “Cerrado” (Brazilian Savanna) Biological Reserve1

Several species of African grasses brought to Brazil as cattle forage have spread widely, outcompeting native herb species. The open forms of Brazilian savanna (“campo cerrado” and “campo sujo”) are the most affected by such invasions, because their structure is open, permitting enough sunlight into the lower strata. The invasion of alien forage grasses occurs in almost every cerrado nature reserve. This study was carried out in the “Cerrado de Hmas Biological Reserve”, Pirassununga, São Paulo State, Brazil, with the following objectives: (a) to compare the abundance of native and alien grass species; (b) to verify the importance of such alien grasses in the community; (c) to identity distribution patterns for the alien grass species in a gradient from the edge (highly disturbed) to the center (less disturbed) of the reserve; and (d) to explore the distribution of native and alien grasses in the search for possible competitive interactions. Using the “point method,” a total of 260 points was sampled and 52 species were recorded. The four most frequent species (FA = absolute frequency) were two native (Echinolaena inflexa [Poir.J Chase [FA = 38.85%] and Diandrostachya chrysotrix [Nees] Jacues Felix [FA = 15.38%]) and two alien African species (Melinis minutiflora Beauv. [FA = 33.08%] and Brachiaria decumbens Stapf [FA = 13.85%]). M. minutiflora and E. inflexa had higher values of absolute vigor (67.69 and 59.62%, respectively), relative vigor (28.16 and 24.80%, respectively), and cover (100.77 and 98.47, respectively), indicating higher biomasses and densities and their dominance in the community. B. decumbens presented the highest number of contacts per point, showing the highest stratification. To detect possible edge–center distribution gradients, correspondence analysis was done, initially using all the recorded species and subsequently only the four more frequent grasses, with similar results: (a) the alien grasses, especially M. minutiflora, did not show a distinct distribution gradient from edge to center, but occurred over the whole reserve; (b) no distinct ecotonal band around the reserve (edge–belt) was detected, the whole reserve seeming to be “ecotonal”; and (c) E. inflexa and M. minutiflora showed similar phytosociological patterns, and spatial distribution; association between these two species was statistically significant.     

Alien grasses in Brazilian savannas: a threat to the biodiversity

African grasses used as forage are spreading fast in cerrado (Brazilian savanna) patches, probably displacing native species. An analysis of the graminoid species abundance was performed in Cerrado Pé-de-Gigante Reserve (São Paulo State, Brazil), where their relative frequency, density, dominance and the value of importance were assessed in two cerrado forms: cerrado sensu stricto (denser) and campo cerrado (open). Thirty-six transects were determined, along which 3240.5 m × 0.5 m herbaceous samples were taken. Ordination by CCA analysis was performed to detect gradients in the graminoid species distribution, according to shading, distance from the reserve border and aspect. Interspecific associations among the species were tested. A total of 93 species were sampled, predominantly Poaceae and Myrtaceae families. Two alien grasses were found, Melinis minutiflora and Brachiaria decumbens, with very high values of importance. Light availability proved to be the most important analyzed environmental factor related to graminoid distribution, strongly correlated with the abundance of M. minutiflora. Both alien grasses were negatively associated with most native graminoids, suggesting they exert a strong competitive pressure on the native herbaceous community. Attention must be taken to the introduction of alien species in the country.     

The root to shoot ratio of trees from open- and closed-canopy cerrado in south-eastern Brazil

Background: The Brazilian savanna, or Cerrado, has been described as an ‘upside-down forest’, with higher below-ground than above-ground biomass. The cerrado vegetation, ranging from open grasslands to forests, comprises a wide range of ecological conditions and plant biomass.

Aims: To determine if and how root:shoot ratio in 102 trees differed between open- (cerrado sensu stricto) and closed-canopy cerrado (cerradão) within the same region in south-eastern Brazil.

Methods: Differences in root:shoot ratios and environmental conditions between the two cerrado types were examined, by uprooting and weighing trees from different species and functional groups.

Results: Root:shoot ratio was higher in the open than in the closed cerrado, especially among deciduous species. Root:shoot ratio in the open cerrado was lower than reported for the same cerrado type in central Brazil. Soil fertility did not differ between cerrado types, but soil water was lower and light availability was higher in the open cerrado.

Conclusions: The lower root:shoot ratio in closed than in open cerrado is probably a response to lower light and higher soil water availability, and/or to less frequent fires. Estimates of above-ground carbon storage alone significantly underestimate the carbon stock in open relative to closed cerrado.     

A comparison of the wood anatomy of 11 species from two cerrado habitats (cerrado s.s. and adjacent gallery forest)

A comparative study of the secondary xylem (wood) anatomy of 11 species (38 specimens) occurring in cerrado s.s. and the adjacent gallery forest (both cerrado s.l. habitat) was made with the aim of identifying the anatomical characteristics of ecological value and correlating them with the environmental conditions. The anatomical features that vary, in general, between the two habitats are: growth ring distinctness (well or poorly defined); tyloses and deposits (more abundant in cerrado specimens); gelatinous fibres (more evident in cerrado specimens and in different patterns between habitats); variation in paratracheal and banded parenchyma (more abundant in cerrado); and more cells per parenchyma strand in cerrado. In general, gallery forest specimens have wider vessels, fewer vessels per square millimetre and larger intervessel pits, indicating more efficient water conduction, whereas cerrado s.s. specimens are the opposite, with low vulnerability and mesomorphy indices, demonstrating greater safety under conditions of water stress. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ?? , ??–??.     

Small mammals of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (Cerrado of Central Brazil): ecologic, karyologic, and taxonomic considerations.

This work is based on a survey of small mammals carried out in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a natural reserve located in the mountains of the Planalto Central Goiano in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. The 227 specimens collected represented six marsupial and 13 rodent species. Taxonomic, karyologic, and ecologic considerations are present and discussed in the present work. Our data reflected the faunal heterogeneity with respect to both elevation and vegetation because only eight of the 19 species were collected at both high and low elevations. The composition of the small mammal fauna of the park is influenced by predominance of forest formations at low elevations and cerrado with rupestrian areas at high elevations. Presence of endemic species and one undescribed demonstrated that the cerrado has an endemic fauna and a little known diversity of small mammals.     

Attractiveness of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) to faeces from native mammals in different trophic guilds

Dung beetles are predominantly coprophagous and use mammalian faeces as their main food resource and for offspring rearing. However, these resources are generally ephemeral and scarce. The objective of this study was to verify the attractiveness to dung beetles of the faeces of nine native mammal species of the Cerrado biome in different trophic guilds. This study was conducted during the rainy season (October 2016 to March 2017) in two sensu stricto areas of the Cerrado in the Brasília National Park (PNB), Federal District, Brazil. Pitfalls containing faeces of nine mammals native to the region were used as bait (from three herbivores, three carnivores and three omnivores) for the collection of dung beetles. We collected 203 individuals and 19 species, and the most abundant species were Uroxys aff. thoracalis, Oxysternon palemo, Coprophanaeus spitzi and Diabroctis mirabilis. The most attractive faecal bait was from the omnivorous Chrysocyon brachyurus (32.67% of the individuals and 13 species). This study reveals variation in the attraction of dung beetles to native mammal dung of the Cerrado, with more abundance in the faeces of omnivores and carnivores and less in the faeces of herbivores. The species composition in the carnivore baits did not differ from that of the omnivore baits. These data indicate that changes in Scarabaeinae assemblages result from changes in mammal species such as those that have occurred in the Cerrado biome with the conversion to cattle production, which in recent years has caused intense fragmentation of habitats, expansion of agricultural and livestock activities and the introduction of exotic species. The mammal C. brachyurus, vulnerable to extinction in Brazil, should be a focus for future research, since its faeces support a great diversity of dung beetles in the Cerrado.     

Mesozoic chrysopid-like Planipennia: a phylogenetic approach (Insecta: Neuroptera)

The Mesozoic chrysopid-like Planipennia are revised and several new genera and species are described. The new superfamily Chrysopoidea is proposed for the extant and fossil Chrysopidae, and the fossil families Liassochrysidae n. fam., Allopteridae Zhang 1991 n. sensu, Mesochrysopidae Handlirsch, 1906 n. sensu, Tachinymphidae n. fam., and Limaiidae Martins-Neto and Vulcano 1989 n. sensu. A phylogenetic analysis of the Chrysopoidea is proposed, based on the wing venation characters. With at least the four families Allopteridae, Mesochrysopidae, Tachinymphidae, and Chrysopidae, showing different wing venation patterns, the systematic diversity and morphological disparity of the Chrysopoidea are maximal during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Mesozoic family Limaiidae was still present during the Paleocene/Eocene suggesting a minimal impact on the Chrysopoidea of the crisis of the diversity at the K-T boundary. Other Cenozoic Chrysopoidea can be attributed to the Chrysopidae sensu stricto.     

Impact of the invasive alien grass Melinis minutiflora at the savanna-forest ecotone in the Brazilian Cerrado

Exotic grasses are a serious threat to biodiversity in the cerrado savannas of central Brazil. Of particular concern is the possible role they may have in impeding tree regeneration at gallery (riverine) forest edges and increasing fire intensity, thereby driving gallery forest retreat. Here we quantify the effect of roads and distance from gallery forests on the abundance of the African grass Melinis minutiflora Beauv. and test for an effect of this species on woody plant regeneration and leaf area index. Melinis was present at approximately 70% of the sites near gallery forest edges, with its frequency declining sharply at greater distances from the edge. Melinis frequency was 2.8 times greater where roads were present nearby. Leaf area index (LAI) of the ground layer was 38% higher where Melinis was present than where it was absent. LAI was strongly correlated to fine fuel mass (r² = 0.80), indicating higher fuel loads where Melinis was present. The abundance of tree and shrub species in the ground layer was negatively related to LAI and to the presence of Melinis. The greater fuel accumulation and reduced tree regeneration caused by Melinis may cause a net reduction in forest area by increasing fire intensity at the gallery forest edge and slowing the rate of forest expansion.     

The role of roadsides in conserving Cerrado plant diversity

The structure of Cerrado vegetation (sensu stricto) along roadsides was compared with that of protected areas (reserves). The superior stratum of reserves had 2.7 times more individuals and 1.4 times more species than on roadsides, while in the intermediate stratum there were 1.7 times more individuals and 25 % more species in reserves. Additionally, roadsides had a lower prevalence of tree species with thin bark and from forest physiognomies. In the intermediate stratum of roadsides there was a lower proportion of forest species, and also fewer species dispersed by animals. These differences occur, possibly because the vegetation of their edges is cleared during the construction of the roads and part of the soil is taken as landfill. Later, they suffer from a higher fire frequency and high coverage of exotic grasses (80 % average). Moreover, it is likely that the absence of some dispersers on roadsides may affect the recruitment of young plants. Despite these differences, the roadsides are able to maintain at least 70 % of tree species and 72 % of shrub species found in reserves. These results show that roadside vegetation can contribute to the conservation of the flora of Cerrado. This is particularly important considering that over 60 % of the original area of this ecosystem has been destroyed and that less than 4 % is protected. With 32,012 km of roads in the Cerrado alone, the roadside vegetation may represent a cumulative area of 96,000 of hectares, an area larger than many of the Cerrado’s national parks.     

Entomopathogenic nematode distribution and edaphoclimatic conditions in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais,Brazil

Based on the high diversity of Brazilian fauna and flora, edaphoclimatic conditions in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, and the situation of utilization of EPNs in Brazil, a survey was conducted in order to relate the presence of these organisms with the physical and chemical attributes of the soil, combined with precipitation. To this end, soil samples were collected in areas with diversified vegetation types in Monte Carmelo, MG, at Juliana Farm. The samples were obtained every 15 days for 6 months. From each spot, soil samples (about 500 g) were collected for soil moisture characterization, nematode isolation and determination of pH, organic matter, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potential acidity (H + Al) and precipitation data (mm). Three populations of entomopathogenic nematodes of the Heterorhabditis amazonensis species were isolated in Cerrado stricto sensu and Gallery forest areas. The occurrence H. amazonensis could not be considered restricted to specific soil condition, as organic matter, humidity, pH, Ca, K, Mg and H + Al, especially considering the organic matter and K values, which had variable levels between the places of collection. The p values of the positive soil samples were at a lower level than the mean of the Gallery forest and Cerrado, and at the same level as maize and pasture area. The soil moisture in the Cerrado area increased with the higher values of precipitation; however, in the Gallery forest area this association was not observed. Also, the nematodes were isolated when the temperature began to decrease.