Beyond Expectations: Recent Discovery of New Cave-Restricted Species Elevates the Água Clara Cave System to the Richest Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Neotropics

Abstract

The Água Clara Cave System was previously recognized as a prominent hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in South America, harboring 31 cave-restricted species. However, a recent expedition conducted in September 2023, coinciding with an exceptionally dry period in the region, provided access to previously unexplored areas. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the cave-restricted invertebrate species, extending the findings from a previous article on the Agua Clara Cave System published in June 2023, and emphasizing the significance of this system as one of the most crucial tropical biodiversity hotspots. This survey unveiled an additional 10 species, raising the count of cave-restricted species within the system to an impressive 41. This remarkable diversity not only solidifies the Água Clara Cave System’s position as a paramount hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in the tropics but also serves as a stark warning about the imminent risks faced by these species. The escalating human-induced alterations in the region, notably deforestation, pose a significant risk to the survival of many of these unique and endemic species.

Global Subterranean Biodiversity: A Unique Pattern

“…Lukić et al [36] reported that almost all information for the fauna of the Lukina Jama-Trojama Cave System in Croatia dates from the 1990s or later. The same is true for Fern Cave in Alabama [44], Hon Chong in Vietnam [46], and the Água Clara Cave System in Brazil [27,28]. Sampling effort is therefore a major determinant of the richness of species in these caves.…”