Objective

:To characterize the functional composition of the edaphic macrofauna in five pastureland agroecosystems in Granma province, Cuba.

Materials and Methods

:The study was conducted in two natural pasturelands: natural pastureland with trees and pastureland of natural grasses, with dispersed trees and association of cultivated grasses and trees. Sampling was performed twice per year, during the rainy and the dry season. The edaphic macrofauna was collected according to the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility) methodology and by pitfall traps. The identified organisms were classified into soil engineers, litter detritivores, herbivores and predators. The proportional abundance of each functional group (%) was calculated and the proportion comparison analysis (chi-squared) was carried out with the statistical package ComparPro, version 1.

Results

:Three taxonomic units were identified, classified as soil engineers, seven detritivores, eight herbivores and six predators. There was absolute dominion, regarding proportional abundance, of soil engineers in the five studied agroecosystems and in all the sampling periods. The detritivorous order Isopoda was not present in the deforested natural pastures and continuous grazing. To the functional group called parasitoid, individuals of seven Hymenoptera and Diptera families belonged.

Conclusions

: The analysis of the functional groups of the edaphic macrofauna allowed to determine the presence of all the groups in the studied agroecosystems, with predominance of soil engineers. The pasturelands with scarce vegetation and continuous grazing provided neither habitat nor necessary conditions for the development of detritivorous organisms.

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