Diversidade de ácaros e a sua aplicação como bioindicadores de (in)sustentabilidade ambiental em sistemas agropecuários

Abstract

Agriculture and livestock production are among the human activities that generate the greatest environmental impacts. However, these activities encompass a wide range of management practices, resulting in varying levels of impact. Agricultural systems range from those based on the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, which cause greater environmental damage, to more sustainable management approaches aimed at reducing environmental, social, and economic impacts. Therefore, it is essential to develop tools to assess the level of impact and, consequently, environmental sustainability according to the type of management adopted in agricultural systems. Bioindicators have great potential as tools for evaluating the impact of agricultural systems on the environment, however, studies addressing this topic are still incipient. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the application of bioindicators to predict the level of sustainability in agricultural systems. Initially, we assessed plant-associated mite diversity in citrus and pasture systems. Subsequently, we analyzed the use of these organisms as bioindicators of management quality in livestock pastures. In addition, we evaluated the potential use of plant-associated mites as bioindicators of agricultural (un)sustainability, using citrus production as a model system. Overall, this study contributes to the assessment of environmental sustainability in agricultural areas, as well as to the evaluation of management practices applied in agriculture and livestock systems.