Impacts of Road in the Distribution of Beetles in a Fragment of Atlantic Forest Hill in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

The human pressures are transforming the landscape into isolated patches of forest remnants, which enhances the edge effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects on beetles in a stretch of slope Atlantic Forest. Were collected monthly from May 2008 to April 2009, with no bait pitfall traps at six transects hillside above the road at distances of 5, 30, 60 and 100 m, Tijuca National Park - RJ. The material was sorted (over 2mm) and identified the families, with their respective trophic groups. We recorded 7449 individuals from 17 families and six unidentified morphospecies. The families were the most abundant Staphylinidae, Nitidulidae, Scarabaeidae and Scolytidae. Staphylinidae was the most abundant, therefore the group of carnivores, too. The most abundant families dictated the distribution of trophic groups throughout the year. There was no significant difference between the distances, both for families and for the trophic groups, and found a pattern in the grouping of the sites. The data may be constrained by environmental heterogeneity, or there is a clear pattern because of the taxonomic level examined. There is a distinct distribution for each family, seasonally. Trophic groups present their answers regarding the most abundant families. It is suggested that the responses are being shaped by the conditions offered by structural factors and historical site and not by possible edge effects.