Taxonomic and functional diversity of oligochaetes in Neotropical springs: the influence of eucalyptus monocultures

The replacement of native vegetation with monoculture eucalyptus plantations and the growing demand for water are strongly threatening the springs and, consequently, the fauna present. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of eucalyptus plantations on the taxonomic and functional structure of aquatic oligochaete assemblages in Neotropical springs, assessing if (1) the taxonomic and functional diversities of aquatic oligochaetes are related to each other and (2) the replacement of vegetation cover by eucalyptus monoculture alters the composition and functional parameters of aquatic oligochaetes. The study was conducted in 20 springs located on private properties where eucalyptus forestry is predominant, in the Paraíba do Sul River sub-basin, Brazil. A positive relationship was found between taxonomic and functional parameters. PERMANOVA found that springs located in forested areas had a different taxonomic composition of oligochaetes compared to springs in eucalyptus areas, and all generalized linear models (GLM) pointed to the area as significant. Our results help to understand the influence of eucalyptus monoculture on the taxonomic and functional structure of oligochaetes.