The millipedes (Diplopoda Class) are organisms of the edaphic macrofauna important for the decomposition of organic residues deposited in soil and can also be used as indicators of soil quality. However, studies with these organisms in tropical regions are incipient. In this context, this thesis is structured in four chapters. The Chapter 1 refers to a study of laboratory that evaluated the effect of increasing population densities of the tropical millipede Glyphiulus granulatus on aggregation, enzymatic activity and soil P fractions. The Chapters 2 and 3 were also developed under laboratory conditions, and both used the tropical millipede species Rhinocricus botocudus. In Chapter 2 was used also the earthworm Eisenia andrei to evaluate the maturity of a mixture of cattle manure and coffee plants residues (leaves and branches < 5 mm in diameter) (1: 1, v: v) along of 120 days of incubation. In Chapter 3 was study the potential of R. botocudus in the degradation and maturity of coffee plant residues. In Chapter 4 the effect of vegetation cover on epigeic macrofauna and millipede communities was discussed through relationships with soil and litter attributes. The Chapter 1 showed that the increase in population densities of G. granulatus optimized the formation of soil aggregates between 2.00-4.76 mm and reduced the aggregates between 1.00-2.00 mm. In addition, the activity of β-glycosidase soil enzyme was increased at the highest densities of G. granulatus (6 and 12 millipedes per microcosm). In Chapter 2, through infrared analysis in humic and fulvic acids, were demonstrated reductions in aliphatic organic molecules and increases in aromatic groups during 120 days of incubation of the organic residues. Regardless of the presence of R. botocudus millipedes, these changes were more pronounced with the presence of E. andrei earthworms, which demonstrates that this earthworm species optimized the maturity of the cattle manure + coffee residue. The Chapter 3 demonstrated that in the end of 120 days of the incubation of coffee plant residues, the treatment with R. botocudus compared to the control had lower values of cellulose (366 and 290 g kg -1 in the control and with millipede, respectively), and lower values of celulose/lignina ratio (0.92 and 0.63 in the control and with millipede, respectively). These results highlight the potential of this millipede species for the degradation of structural components of coffee plant residues. In the dry period, the insertion of the Australian cedar plants (Toona ciliata)11 with coffee plants (Coffea canephora) improved the diversity of the millipede community compared to the coffee plants monoculture system, and presented values for diversity of Shannon (H’) of 0.46 and 0.25, respectivThe millipedes (Diplopoda Class) are organisms of the edaphic macrofauna important for the decomposition of organic residues deposited in soil and can also be used as indicators of soil quality. However, studies with these organisms in tropical regions are incipient. In this context, this thesis is structured in four chapters. The Chapter 1 refers to a study of laboratory that evaluated the effect of increasing population densities of the tropical millipede Glyphiulus granulatus on aggregation, enzymatic activity and soil P fractions. The Chapters 2 and 3 were also developed under laboratory conditions, and both used the tropical millipede species Rhinocricus botocudus. In Chapter 2 was used also the earthworm Eisenia andrei to evaluate the maturity of a mixture of cattle manure and coffee plants residues (leaves and branches < 5 mm in diameter) (1: 1, v: v) along of 120 days of incubation. In Chapter 3 was study the potential of R. botocudus in the degradation and maturity of coffee plant residues. In Chapter 4 the effect of vegetation cover on epigeic macrofauna and millipede communities was discussed through relationships with soil and litter attributes. The Chapter 1 showed that the increase in population densities of G. granulatus optimized the formation of soil aggregates between 2.00-4.76 mm and reduced the aggregates between 1.00-2.00 mm. In addition, the activity of β-glycosidase soil enzyme was increased at the highest densities of G. granulatus (6 and 12 millipedes per microcosm). In Chapter 2, through infrared analysis in humic and fulvic acids, were demonstrated reductions in aliphatic organic molecules and increases in aromatic groups during 120 days of incubation of the organic residues. Regardless of the presence of R. botocudus millipedes, these changes were more pronounced with the presence of E. andrei earthworms, which demonstrates that this earthworm species optimized the maturity of the cattle manure + coffee residue. The Chapter 3 demonstrated that in the end of 120 days of the incubation of coffee plant residues, the treatment with R. botocudus compared to the control had lower values of cellulose (366 and 290 g kg -1 in the control and with millipede, respectively), and lower values of celulose/lignina ratio (0.92 and 0.63 in the control and with millipede, respectively). These results highlight the potential of this millipede species for the degradation of structural components of coffee plant residues. In the dry period, the insertion of the Australian cedar plants ely. On the other hand, in all agroecosystems there were reductions in the diversity of millipedes between seasonal periods, and the fragment of native Atlantic forest used as the study reference demonstrated the maintenance of diversity between periods. These results reinforces the low support capacity of the edaphic communities in the studied agroecosystems.
Os milípedes (Classe Diplopoda) são organismos da macrofauna edáfica importantes para a decomposição dos resíduos orgânicos aportados ao solo e também podem ser utilizados como indicadores de qualidade do solo. No entanto, estudos com esses organismos em regiões tropicais são incipientes. Nesse contexto, a presente tese se encontra estruturada em quatro capítulos. O Capítulo 1 se refere a um estudo de laboratório que avaliou o efeito de densidades populacionais crescentes do milípede tropical Glyphiulus granulatus sobre agregação, atividade enzimática e frações de P do solo. Os Capítulos 2 e 3 também foram desenvolvidos em condições de laboratório, e ambos utilizaram a espécie de milípede tropical Rhinocricus botocudus. Além dessa espécie de milípede, no Capítulo 2 foi utilizada a minhoca Eisenia andrei para avaliar a maturidade de uma mistura de esterco bovino e resíduos de cafeeiro (folhas e galhos < 5 mm de diâmetro) (1:1, v:v), ao longo de 120 dias de incubação. No Capítulo 3 foi investigado o potencial de R. botocudus na degradação e maturidade apenas dos resíduos de cafeeiro. No Capítulo 4 foi abordado o efeito de coberturas vegetais sobre a macrofauna epigeica e comunidades de milípedes por meio de relações com atributos de solo e serapilheira. O Capítulo 1 demonstrou que o aumento das densidades populacionais de G. granulatus otimizou a formação de agregados do solo entre 2,00-4,76 mm e reduziu agregados entre 1,00-2,00 mm. Além disso, a atividade da enzima extracelular β-glicosidase no solo foi potencializada nas maiores densidades de G. granulatus (6 e 12 milípedes por microcosmo). No Capítulo 2, por meio da análise de infravermelho em ácidos húmicos e fúlvicos, foram demonstradas reduções em moléculas orgânicas alifáticas e incrementos em grupos aromáticos ao longo de 120 dias de incubação dos resíduos orgânicos. Independentemente da presença de milípedes R. botocudus, essas alterações foram mais pronunciadas nos tratamentos com a presença de minhocas E. andrei, o que demonstra que essa espécie de minhoca otimizou a maturidade da mistura esterco mais resíduos de cafeeiro. O Capítulo 3 demonstrou que ao final de 120 dias de incubação dos resíduos de cafeeiro, o tratamento com R. botocudus comparado ao controle apresentou menores valores de celulose (366 e 290 g kg -1 no controle e com milípede, respectivamente), e da relação celulose/lignina (0,92 e 0,63 no controle e com milípede, respectivamente), o que ressalta o potencial dessa espécie de9 milípede para a degradação de componentes estruturais dos resíduos de cafeeiro. O Capítulo 4 demonstrou que no período seco a inserção do cedro australiano (Toona ciliata) com cafeeiros (Coffea canephora) melhorou a diversidade da comunidade de milípedes comparado ao sistema de cafeeiros em monocultivo, sendo que apresentaram valores para diversidade de Shannon (H’) de 0,46 e 0,25, respectivamente. Por outro lado, em todos sistemas de cultivos ocorreram reduções da diversidade de milípedes entre períodos sazonais, e o fragmento de mata Atlântica nativa utilizado como referência demonstrou manutenção da diversidade entre períodos, o que reforça a baixa capacidade de suporte das comunidades edáficas nos agroecossistemas estudados.
