Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities?
Twenty caves located in a high altitudinal quartzite area in Brazil were examined for invertebrate richness and composition and in terms of environmental factors that determine community structure. We evaluate how distance, altitude, cave extension, environmental stability, number and size of cave e...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Subterranean Biology |
| Online Access: | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/46444/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1797761755827404800 |
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| author | Marconi Souza Silva Luiz Felipe Moretti Iniesta Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira |
| author_facet | Marconi Souza Silva Luiz Felipe Moretti Iniesta Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira |
| author_sort | Marconi Souza Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Twenty caves located in a high altitudinal quartzite area in Brazil were examined for invertebrate richness and composition and in terms of environmental factors that determine community structure. We evaluate how distance, altitude, cave extension, environmental stability, number and size of cave entrances and stream presence can act on species composition and richness. The caves presented a high richness of troglophilic (463 spp.) and troglobitic species (6 spp.) in relation to other siliciclastic caves around the world. The average richness was 39.55 species per cave (sd = 21.87), the quantitative similarity among caves was 41% and turnover was βrepl. = 0.769. Araneae (20% of the sampled species), Diptera (18%) and Coleoptera (14%) were the dominant orders regarding species richness. Only twenty percent of the caves were placed out of the confidence interval of the average taxonomic distinctness (∆+); however, the ∆+ decreased with the increase of environmental stability. Cave extension and stream presence were the main factors determining the variation of species composition among caves. Cave extension also influenced species richness variations. Furthermore, the total richness and richness of troglobitic species increased with cave extension. The threats to these habitats further revealed that the fauna is at risk due to tourism, trampling and natural soil erosion that can promote microhabitat alterations. Therefore, quartzite caves also require special attention regarding conservation actions in order to keep their natural biological dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:17:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1476f670abee4098b556e052cda9eb2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1768-1448 1314-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:17:38Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Subterranean Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1476f670abee4098b556e052cda9eb2b2023-08-02T05:22:54ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1768-14481314-26152020-02-0133234310.3897/subtbiol.33.4644446444Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities?Marconi Souza Silva0Luiz Felipe Moretti Iniesta1Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira2Universidade Federal de LavrasLaboratório Especial de Coleções ZoológicasUniversidade Federal de LavrasTwenty caves located in a high altitudinal quartzite area in Brazil were examined for invertebrate richness and composition and in terms of environmental factors that determine community structure. We evaluate how distance, altitude, cave extension, environmental stability, number and size of cave entrances and stream presence can act on species composition and richness. The caves presented a high richness of troglophilic (463 spp.) and troglobitic species (6 spp.) in relation to other siliciclastic caves around the world. The average richness was 39.55 species per cave (sd = 21.87), the quantitative similarity among caves was 41% and turnover was βrepl. = 0.769. Araneae (20% of the sampled species), Diptera (18%) and Coleoptera (14%) were the dominant orders regarding species richness. Only twenty percent of the caves were placed out of the confidence interval of the average taxonomic distinctness (∆+); however, the ∆+ decreased with the increase of environmental stability. Cave extension and stream presence were the main factors determining the variation of species composition among caves. Cave extension also influenced species richness variations. Furthermore, the total richness and richness of troglobitic species increased with cave extension. The threats to these habitats further revealed that the fauna is at risk due to tourism, trampling and natural soil erosion that can promote microhabitat alterations. Therefore, quartzite caves also require special attention regarding conservation actions in order to keep their natural biological dynamics.https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/46444/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Marconi Souza Silva Luiz Felipe Moretti Iniesta Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? Subterranean Biology |
| title | Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? |
| title_full | Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? |
| title_fullStr | Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? |
| title_short | Invertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities? |
| title_sort | invertebrates diversity in mountain neotropical quartzite caves which factors can influence the composition richness and distribution of the cave communities |
| url | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/46444/download/pdf/ |
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