A comunidade de macroartrópodos edáficos em uma plantação de Coffea robusta Linden (Rubiaceae) e em uma floresta primária em Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brasil

Abstract

The edaphic macroarthropods community in a plantation ofCoffea robusta Linden (Rubiaceae) and in the primary forest in Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The eomposition and strueture ofthe edaphic macroal1hropod community 01' these two sites were eomparatively studied. The results obtained show that the total densities in the plantation of C. robusta can be higher than in the primary forest. Even though, eontrarily to the observed in the forest, this eommunity is eharacterized by the dominance of some non social groups and by the cOl1centration of most of its individuais in the litter layers. As a consequence, the entire community is more susceptible to seasonal variations in density. Thus, these results emphasize the impor- tance ofthe leaflitter in providing habitat, food as well as more stable microclimatie conditions for the macroarthropods cOl11lllunity. For this reason it is illlpOltant to avoid any kind 01' land Illanagement that takes the litter Irom the soi\.