This study was aimed to evaluate the alterations in the soil Coleoptera larvae population in different Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) ecosystems O. Ktze: native forest well preserved; an araucaria forest area introduced on a Humic Hapludox with intermediate diversity of other vegetables species and forest area introduced on a clayey-textured Typic Dystrochept lower density of other vegetable species, which suffered impact by accidental fire, in the country of Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil, aiming at the preservation of this tree species. The larvae were collected on 25 × 25cm areas, in 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30cm soil depths and in the litter. Ten sampling points from each ecosystem were collected, in october 2002 (dry season) and march 2003 (rainy season). Changes in density and diversity of the Coleoptera larvae in the ecosystems with introduced araucaria on a Humic Hapludox and on a Typic Dystrochept were observed. The results suggest that there is a great influence of soil physico-chemical properties as well as of the climatic conditions upon this community.
brazilian pine; soil invertebrates; beetles; bioindicator
