Abundance, species composition and phenology of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from a secondary upland forest in Central Amazonia

Abstract

The 6,878 pauropods collected within 12 months in the soil (0-7 cm depth) of a secondary upland forest (1,085.7 ± 42.3 ind./m2/month) near Manaus were represented by 41 species of the Pauropodidae (Order Tetramerocerata). The Pauropodinae were represented by 31 species, the Polypauropodinae by 6 species, and the Scleropauropodinae by 4 species. About half of all pauropod specimens obtained inhabited the organic soil layer (0-3.5 cm depth) compared to the mineral subsoil (3.5-7 cm). Abundance of pauropods in the soil was twice as high in comparison to the Symphyla from the same study site. The lack of a distinct reproductive period in eudominant and dominant pauropod species and the presence of juveniles and adults throughout the year indicate a plurivoltine mode of life. Only in one species was the monthly catch of adults positively correlated with maximum temperatures of the soil. Pauropods obtained from the soil of four other upland forests in Central Amazonia (0-14 cm depth) accounted for 1.1-4.4% of the total soil arthropods. A possible parthenogenesis found in three pauropod species is discussed.