The influence of the fauna on the development of slope processes has not yet received sufficient attention in geomorphologic studies. Preliminary studies in the area have detected the intense activity of meso-fauna (termites and ants) providing the slope surface with a representative amount of loose material washed down-slope by sheet erosion. This study has focussed the attention onto the impact of the meso-fauna on the physic and chemical characteristics of the soil. They are predominantly latosoils developed on granit-gnaiss of the crystalline basement, and of schist from the Rio Paraśna Supergroup, in Gouveia, MG. They are very weathered soils containing low concentration of Ca, Mg, K, P, N and high of Al and Fe. Thirty geomorphologic sites were identified in ten slopes, along the Chiqueiro Basin, in the middle of which soil profiles were opened, observed and sampled for laboratory analysis. Within 40m around the site, measurement of termites and ants mounding as well as samples for laboratory were taken. Results of chemical soil-analysis have shown a higher concentration of macronutrients in the superficial horizon of the soils localised near the mounds compared to those located at greater distances. Although similar results are reported in the literature, the values are not as representative as those found for Gouveia. This is very important to enhance soil capability of sustaining vegetation cover and soil resistance to erosion. The X-ray analysis of clay demonstrated that the mesofauna proceeds to a selection of the edaphic material to build the mounds, especially the termites that use more 2:1 type of clays. In doing so they have an important role in recycling the soil of the region.
*This research is financially supported by FAPEMIG.