Abstract
The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse biomes in the world. A significant protected area in Paraná State (Brazil) represents an ecotone between two subdivisions: the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and the Araucaria Moist Forest. This protected area experiences a loss of approximately half of its canopy tree leaves between June and August, leading to the formation of a thick layer of leaf litter. This environment fosters a high abundance and diversity of Staphylinidae beetles, the beetle family with the highest species richness, particularly in the Neotropics. This study investigated whether soil characteristics influence Staphylinidae composition and diversity. Among the two soil types analyzed, Ultisol exhibited the highest overall richness (63 morphospecies) and diversity, whereas Oxisol (38 morphospecies) hosted a compositionally distinct community with greater internal variability, a pattern consistent across years. A generalized linear model confirmed soil type as the main predictor of richness, while NMDS ordination showed distinct community clustering by soil type, corroborated by PERMANOVA. These results infer the importance of Ultisol within the reserve, given that it is subject to greater disturbance through direct contact with crops and highways. Demonstrating the importance of soil properties in biodiversity monitoring enhances the understanding of habitat heterogeneity and reinforces the relevance of soil health.
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