A Fine-Scale Hotspot at the Edge: Epigean Arthropods from the Atacama Coast (Paposo-Taltal, Antofagasta Region, Chile)

Abstract

The Atacama Desert at its margins harbors a unique biodiversity that is still very poorly known, especially in coastal fog oases spanning from Perú towards the Atacama coast. An outstanding species-rich fog oasis is the latitudinal fringe Paposo-Taltal, that is considered an iconic site of the Lomas formation. This contribution is the first to reveal the knowledge on arthropods of this emblematic coastal section. We used pitfall traps to study the taxonomic composition, richness, and abundance of terrestrial arthropods in 17 sample sites along a 100 km section of the coast between 24.5 and 25.5 southern latitude, in a variety of characteristic habitats. From a total of 9154 individuals, we were able to identify 173 arthropod species grouped into 118 genera and 57 families. The most diverse group were insects, with 146 species grouped in 97 genera and 43 families, while arachnids were represented by 27 species grouped into 21 genera and 14 families. Current conservation challenges on a global scale are driving the creation and evaluation of potential conservation sites in regions with few protected areas, such as the margins of the Atacama Desert. Better taxonomic, distributional, and population knowledge is urgently needed to perform concrete conservation actions in a biodiversity hotspot at a desert edge.

Diversity and Conservation Gap Analysis of the Solanaceae of Southern South America

“…This genus is a main component of Lomas vegetation, a plant formation found along the coast from Peru to northern Chile, characterized by high endemism and richness maintained by the coastal fog reaching the coastal cliffs at an altitude around 1,000 m asl ( Muñoz-Schick et al, 2001 ). The Solanaceae component of this remarkable environment has been emphasized by Dillon (2005 , 2016) , and other components of this unique biota have been recently highlighted ( Moat et al, 2021 ; Pizarro-Araya et al, 2021 ).…”

A new species of Diplostephium (Asteraceae, Astereae) from the Atacama Desert, Chile

“…Simpson, or Euphorbia amandi Oudejans ( Johnston 1929 ), share this pattern. Diplostephium paposanum , is the newest component of a remarkable flora recognized by its level of endemism at the Paposo-Taltal coastal fringe, especially in the Asteraceae family ( Luebert et al 2009 ), a coastal section also recognized as a micro-hotspot of biodiversity integrating new entomological knowledge ( Pizarro-Araya et al 2021 ).…”

The Present and Future of Insect Biodiversity Conservation in the Neotropics: Policy Gaps and Recommendations

“…Additionally, some of the diverse ecoregions found in the Neotropics can be underrepresented by protected area networks (Hazen and Anthamatten 2004 ; Soutullo and Gudynas 2006 ; Cantú-Salazar and Gaston 2010 ; Durán et al 2013 ). This includes temperate grasslands, deserts and xeric shrublands, the latter of which can hold unique insect faunas, such as in the Atacama (Zúñiga-Reinoso and Predel 2019 ; Pizarro-Araya et al 2021 ). The exclusion of these biomes from protected area networks leave their biodiversity vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures.…”