There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region
The caves of Igatu, municipality of Andaraí, belonging to the region known as Chapada Diamantina represent a new hotspot of subterranean fauna. These caves are siliciclastic, which are sedimentary rocks where silica predominates, such as sandstones and (following metamorphism) quartzites, which make...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/991 |
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| author | Jonas Eduardo Gallão Deyvison Bonfim Ribeiro Jéssica Scaglione Gallo Maria Elina Bichuette |
| author_facet | Jonas Eduardo Gallão Deyvison Bonfim Ribeiro Jéssica Scaglione Gallo Maria Elina Bichuette |
| author_sort | Jonas Eduardo Gallão |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The caves of Igatu, municipality of Andaraí, belonging to the region known as Chapada Diamantina represent a new hotspot of subterranean fauna. These caves are siliciclastic, which are sedimentary rocks where silica predominates, such as sandstones and (following metamorphism) quartzites, which makes them even more relevant from the point of view of subterranean diversity. For five caves, which we named Igatu Cave System (ICS), thirty-seven obligate cave species were found, of which thirty-five were troglobitic and two were stygobitic. The troglobitic taxa for ICS belong to three phyla, nine classes, 18 orders, and 32 families, representing a high phylogenetic diversity. Some taxa were, for the first time, reported as troglobitic in Brazil and even worldwide, such as Acari and scutigeromorphans (Chilopoda). We started the studies in 2009 and continue trough long-term monitoring projects. Some threats, severe in the past, such as “garimpo’’ (illegal small-scale artisanal mining) continue nowadays in an incipient way; however, the urban expansion due to the touristic appeal is also considered a threat. Our data ranked ICS as the Brazilian hotspot with the highest number of troglobitic/stygobitic species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:52:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f67b3fcc7b784df584ca9795cdd38bfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:52:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-f67b3fcc7b784df584ca9795cdd38bfc2023-11-19T10:16:13ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-09-0115999110.3390/d15090991There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina RegionJonas Eduardo Gallão0Deyvison Bonfim Ribeiro1Jéssica Scaglione Gallo2Maria Elina Bichuette3Laboratório de Estudos Subterrâneos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís km 235, São Carlos 13565-905, São Paulo, BrazilInstituto Brasileiro de Estudos Subterrâneos, São Carlos 13565-545, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Subterrâneos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís km 235, São Carlos 13565-905, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Subterrâneos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís km 235, São Carlos 13565-905, São Paulo, BrazilThe caves of Igatu, municipality of Andaraí, belonging to the region known as Chapada Diamantina represent a new hotspot of subterranean fauna. These caves are siliciclastic, which are sedimentary rocks where silica predominates, such as sandstones and (following metamorphism) quartzites, which makes them even more relevant from the point of view of subterranean diversity. For five caves, which we named Igatu Cave System (ICS), thirty-seven obligate cave species were found, of which thirty-five were troglobitic and two were stygobitic. The troglobitic taxa for ICS belong to three phyla, nine classes, 18 orders, and 32 families, representing a high phylogenetic diversity. Some taxa were, for the first time, reported as troglobitic in Brazil and even worldwide, such as Acari and scutigeromorphans (Chilopoda). We started the studies in 2009 and continue trough long-term monitoring projects. Some threats, severe in the past, such as “garimpo’’ (illegal small-scale artisanal mining) continue nowadays in an incipient way; however, the urban expansion due to the touristic appeal is also considered a threat. Our data ranked ICS as the Brazilian hotspot with the highest number of troglobitic/stygobitic species.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/991subterranean biodiversityconservationBahia stateNortheastern Brazil |
| spellingShingle | Jonas Eduardo Gallão Deyvison Bonfim Ribeiro Jéssica Scaglione Gallo Maria Elina Bichuette There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region Diversity subterranean biodiversity conservation Bahia state Northeastern Brazil |
| title | There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region |
| title_full | There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region |
| title_fullStr | There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region |
| title_short | There and Back Again—The Igatu Hotspot Siliciclastic Caves: Expanding the Data for Subterranean Fauna in Brazil, Chapada Diamantina Region |
| title_sort | there and back again the igatu hotspot siliciclastic caves expanding the data for subterranean fauna in brazil chapada diamantina region |
| topic | subterranean biodiversity conservation Bahia state Northeastern Brazil |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/991 |
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