Influência das características físicoquímicas e da matéria orgânica de depósitos recentes de guano de morcego na riqueza e diversidade de invertebrados de uma caverna calcária

Abstract

Several physical, chemical and spatial traits of guano deposits (distance from the cave entrance, area of deposits, pH and percentage of organic matter) were analyzed with respect to the richness and diversity of the invertebrates communities associated with these deposits in Mil Pérolas Cave, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We collected 761 individuals in 23 morphospecies pertaining to 10 groups: Acarina, Araneae, Collembola, Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera and Anellida. Deposits area is the most important variable found to influence guano communities in this cave, though its effect was moderate.