Térmitas (Insecta: Isoptera) de uma área de floresta primária na região de São Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM) e influência de fatores ambientais sobre sua assembléia

Abstract

The structure of termite assemblage was studied in a terra firme Primary Forest located on the occidental portion of brazilian Amazon, near São Gabriel da Cachoeira city, northwest of Amazonas state. The termites were collected from 30 transects separated 1km between each one, contains 3 quadrates totalizing ninety 10m2 quadrates by hand sampling. As result, were collected 78 species, about 7% of them representing new species for the science and some new occurrences for the brazilian Amazon and Brazil. Termitidae was the dominant family and Nasutitermitinae was the dominant group in species number. However, the most abundant species found was Heterotermer tenius, collected in 44 quadrates follow by Armitermes sp. a collected in 41 quadrats. The dominant feeding group was represented by wood-feeders termites with 33% of species. The most part of the species was founded in hipogeus nest on surface soil, represent 35% of the species. The measured spatial variables to determinate the spatial distribution pattern do not respond statistically. In this case, the assemblage spatial pattern was determinate by an unknown element, not identified in this study. So, others environmental less clear elements can be determinant in some patterns of local termite assemblage.