Influence of invertebrate fauna on leaf decomposition of mangrove ecosystem species

Abstract

This research aims to present information on the leaf decomposition of the species Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C. F. Gaerth, Rhizophora mangle L., Conocarpus erectus L. and the taxonomic groups of soil invertebrate fauna involved in this process, in the municipality of Marechal Deodoro, state of Alagoas. The research took place in the area of the Mundaú/Manguaba Estuarine-Lagunar Complex (CELMM), from May to July 2019, starting by quantifying the speed of leaf decomposition using litterbags, which were distributed on the surface of the soil containing leaves of the three species, followed by sorting, cleaning and weighing the remaining material. Furthermore, the invertebrate organisms present in this leaf content were identified and the ecological indices of Shannon (H) and Pielou (e) were applied, in addition to richness and abundance. From the observation comducted, rainfall data for the months evaluated were also obtained of the species studied over the 90 days, and the one that showed the most accelerated decomposition is L. racemosa, followed by the species C. erectus and R. mangle. As for the invertebrate organisms present in the remaining material, the greatest dominance is Lepidoptera Larvae and Hymenoptera Larvae, confirmed by the diversity (H) and uniformity (e) indices, recorded in May and July, mainly in the species C. erectus, influencing in the decomposition process; The remaining material, over the months, is influenced by rainfall.