Predatory mites Gamasina (Mesostigmata): diversity and prospection in soils of the Amazon biome

• Ano de defesa: 2025
• Autor(a) principal: Gonzalez Cano, Lina Marcela
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: Agroecologia; Agroecology; Biological control; Controle biológico; Integrated pest management; Manejo integrado de pragas; Taxonomia; Taxonomy
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/11/11146/tde-17092025-151046/

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest Brazilian biome, harboring more than half of the country\'s biodiversity across a variety of ecologically valuable ecosystems. In its transitional zone with the Cerrado - one of the world\'s largest savannaforest ecotonesvegetation mosaics form, marked by high local and regional diversity. Both regions have been heavily impacted by land-use changes, highlighting the importance of belowground biodiversity as a key indicator of ecosystem integrity. In this context, the diversity, composition, and functional roles of predatory mites from the cohort Gamasina (Acari: Mesostigmata) were analyzed in agricultural and natural vegetation areas within the Amazon biome. The study encompassed distinct land-use types in Rorainópolis (Roraima) and Sinop (Mato Grosso), including native forest, agroforestry systems, agroecological crops (açaí and cassava), pastures, and pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) monoculture. In Roraima, 13,385 mites were collected, 17% of which belonged to Gamasina; in Mato Grosso, 13,476 mites were recorded, with 28% Gamasina. A total of 2,085 adult females were identified in Mato Grosso and 1,286 in Roraima, spanning 12 families, 35 genera, and over 100 morphospecies per region. At least 54 species and two genera are new to science. The highest species richness and diversity were observed in systems managed under agroecological principles, which mimic the structural and functional attributes of native vegetation. Community composition analyses revealed clear patterns associated with land use. Equitability was higher in pastures, whereas diversity and abundance were greatest in agroforestry and extractivist systems. The clustering of forest and managed areas suggests that sustainable practices favor rich and functionally structured soil communities. Complementary laboratory bioassays were conducted with Asca sp. nov. (Ascidae) and Macrocheles sp. nov. (Macrochelidae), evaluating survival, oviposition, and prey consumption against seven soil-dwelling organisms. Asca sp. showed high survival with Meloidogyne javanica (83.3%) and proved effective with plant-parasitic nematodes, while Macrocheles sp. exhibited higher consumption rate of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus, reaching up to 364.3 prey/day. These complementary trophic strategies highlight the potential of both species for biological control in distinct edaphic contexts. The findings reinforce the ecological and applied importance of Amazonian soil fauna, demonstrating that agroecological systems can successfully integrate biodiversity conservation with productive sustainability. This thesis significantly advances the understanding of Mesostigmata in tropical ecosystems and their use in integrated pest management.