Faunistic analysis of grasshoppers Acridoidea in the Volta Grande of the Xingu River, area of direct infuence of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Station, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The Xingu River has a huge hydroelectric potential, specifcally in the Volta Grande, where the hydroelectric power station of Belo Monte will be installed. For the implementation of this construction project an environmental impact study was necessary, considering the fauna, fora and the social aspects. In order to perform the faunistic analysis of grasshoppers species in the area of direct infuence of the construction project of Belo Monte, an inventory was carried out using entomological nets from November/2007 to August/2008. It was collected 2652 grasshoppers, which belonged to 3 families, 10 subfamilies, 18 tribes, 42 genera and 71 species. The faunistic analysis demonstrated that 74% of the species were classifed as rare or minimal and with regard to constancy 54.9% were classifed as accidental. The highest levels of diversity and richness of grasshoppers occurred in the area A2 that will be fooded to form the hydroelectric lake, which may cause local extinction of these species.