Relação da fauna nativa com a dispersão da espécie invasora Hovenia dulcis Thunb no cinturão verde, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Abstract

Brazil stands out for its vast diversity of plants, especially in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. However, it faces significant challenges due to the increasing presence of invasive alien species, whose understanding of the contribution of fauna to their dispersal, such as Hovenia dulcis (Japanese raisin tree), is crucial for implementing effective conservation and environmental management measures. In this context, this research aimed to analyze the role of native fauna in the dispersal of the invasive species H. dulcis in the Green Belt (GB) in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil, seeking to understand the biotic interactions involved in this process. The study began with a systematic review of the literature to understand the relationships between fauna and invasive plants. Subsequently, five sampling points were distributed along the GB, with 10 monitoring campaigns for active sampling carried out from March to August 2023, coinciding with the species' fruiting period. For passive sampling, 2.225 traps were used per day, carried out from March 2022 to August 2023. The results indicated the record of 15 species of mammals and 170 species of birds in the GB, with 40% of mammal species and 8.8% of bird species consuming the pseudofruit of H. dulcis, indicating a positive interaction between native fauna and invasive plant. Therefore, it is suggested that a plan be implemented to gradually replace H. dulcis with one of the seven native species that fructed in the same period as the invasive species, such as Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Brazilian pepper tree) and Psidium cattleyanum Sabine (grumichama), aiming to meet the food needs of local fauna and protect biodiversity. These results highlight the importance of additional research on these species, as they have short fruiting periods, thus ensuring the preservation of biodiversity and the ecosystem services that GB provides to the population of Santa Cruz do Sul.