Terrestrial flatworm (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) diversity versus man-induced disturbance in an ombrophilous forest in southern Brazil
Terrestrial flatworms, or Terricola, are sensitive to environmentalchanges and therefore might be excellent indicators of the conservation statusof natural habitats. The present study aimed to answer two main questions: (1)is terrestrial planarian diversity affected by human disturbances, and (2) isthere any species or group of species that indicates such disturbance? The studysite, National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, Brazil, was originallycovered by a mixed ombrophilous forest, but successive reforestations andselective logging have modified the original landscape. We studied Terricoladiversity in the four main habitats in the study area: mixed ombrophilous forest(NA), ombrophilous forest with selective Araucariaangustifolia logging (N), A. angustifoliareforestation (A), and reforestation of Pinus elliottii(P). According to an increasing degree of disturbance, the habitats might beordered as follows: (NA)<(N)<(A)<(P). We conducted 24 surveys in eachhabitat over a period of 1 year. Our results indicate that: (1)Terricola diversity is inversely related to the degree of habitat disturbance;(2) there are species (Geoplana franciscana,Geoplana sp. 5, and possibly Geoplanidae 3 andNotogynaphallia guaiana) that prefer habitats located onthe extreme right along the main axis of a detrended correspondence analysisordination and therefore can be considered as indicators of well preserved,natural habitats. On the other hand there are species(Xerapoa sp. 1, Choeradoplanaiheringi, G. marginata sensu Marcus andGeoplana sp. 2) preferring more disturbed habitats, whichmay form biological indicators of such disturbances.