Monitoring of Nematofauna and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Caatinga Area and in the Adjacent Culture

Abstract

Abstract The caatinga biome has high biodiversity. Anthropogenic actions have generated degradation, and evaluations that can prove this situation are important to preservation and sustainable use. Soil quality can be assessed by the activity or diversity of organisms. Among the organisms that can be evaluated are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), important for the maintenance of the ecosystem, and soil nematodes, which participate in the food web. In this way, the evaluation of these organisms in the soil can present an overview of the conditions of this environment. Thus, this work aims to evaluate AMF activity (mycorrhizal colonization and spore density) and AMF diversity and trophic groups of nematodes in the Caatinga area (interior and edge) and adjacent cultivation area. For this, 10 samples of soil and roots were collected in each area (interior Caatinga, edge Caatinga, cultivation). The spore density, percentage of mycorrhizal colonization, abundance of omnivores, carnivores and phytonematodes stood out in the first dry period of collection. The abundance of bacteriovores stood out in the two dry periods. Regarding the areas, the cultivation showed a higher amount of phytonematodes, as well as AMF spores and mycorrhizal colonization, the latter being in the last three collections. The abundance of fungivores also stood out in the cultivation area, in the first two collection periods. It is concluded that the studied Caatinga presents regular edaphic conditions. In addition, it was observed that there was no highlighted edge effect, with many of the parameters of the edge Caatinga similar to the interior Caatinga.