Toxicity of conventional pesticides on the ecosystem services of terrestrial arthropod fauna in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cultivation in San Martin, Peru

Abstract

Toxicity of four pesticides in ecosystem services of terrestrial arthropofauna in cocoa cultivation was evaluated. Cypermethrin (T1), carbofuran (T2), copper oxychloride (T3) and chlorpyrifos (T4) were applied in a cocoa farm in San Martín, Peru. Forty pitfall traps were placed for each treatment to capture terrestrial arthropofauna in four evaluations. It is concluded that the families that presented the greatest abundance of individuals were Formicidae, Entomobryidae and Poduridae. For the global evaluation, significant differences were found in the predators for the specific richness index, being T3 the one that presented the lowest numbers; while for the Margalef index, the lowest value was T3. For the analysis by evaluations, significant differences were found in the detritivores during the second evaluation for the number of individuals, with T4 being the lowest number. Significant differences were also found in the predators during the first evaluation in the Margalef index, with the lowest value being observed in T4. The trophic guild that allowed the most efficient evaluation of the toxicity were the predators, T1 is the most compatible pesticide with the terrestrial arthropods associated with cocoa cultivation, and the alpha diversity indices showed significant differences between the applied pesticides.