Characterization of the edaphic macrofauna in five grassland agroecosystems from Granma province. Taxonomical identification

Resumen

In order to identify the edaphic macrofauna in five grassland agroecosystems from Granma province, samplings were carried out twice a year, between July, 2014 and March, 2017. The edaphic macrofauna was collected according to the standard methodology proposed by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) and by the complementary methodology of pitfall traps. The identification was performed with taxonomical references and keys, and with the cooperation of competent entomologists and taxonomists. The identified edaphic macrofauna, with both methods, in five agroecosystems, was grouped in three phyla, seven classes, 16 orders, 71 families, 121 genera, 63 species and 177 morphospecies. Insecta class was the best represented according to number of orders (11), while Araneae was the most represented order, with 17 families. Formicidae family had the best richness of genera and species, identified with 33 taxonomical units. Out of the identified orders, 17 were collected from monoliths and 14 from traps. Meanwhile, at taxonomical level, 46 were identified in monoliths and 63 in traps. It is concluded that the high presence of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) determined a low taxonomical diversity of the edaphic macrofauna in all the studied agroecosystems. In addition, it is recognized the need of use of the complementary method of pitfall traps to obtain a more complete inventory of the edaphic macrofauna.
Key words: cattle rearing agroecosystem, soil organisms, traps, monoliths