Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest

Dionisio-da-Silva, Welton; Lira, André Felipe de Araújo; Albuquerque, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2018.06.001

Cited by 27 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…roads and farming). Moreover, human-related land use modifies species composition and promotes reductions in abundance and species diversity in scorpion assemblages of Caatinga and Atlantic Rainforest environments, as already reported by previous studies (Lira et al 2016(Lira et al , 2019bDionisio-da-Silva et al 2018). In this sense, the combination of high rates of unsustainable exploration for natural resources in Caatinga (Santos et al 2014;Silva et al 2018), the poor knowledge of its fauna, particularly for scorpions (Porto et al 2014) and other arthropods (Bravo and Calor 2014) and negligence imposed by the political authorities of Brazil represent a threat to Brazilian biodiversity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…In addition, variation in assemblage composition can also be related to the ecological plasticity of their species, wherein dispersion over disturbed environments and habitat requirements may play a key role in the spatial distribution of the species (Cavender- Bares and Wilczek 2003;Fischer and Lindenmayer 2007). Thus, species with low-dispersal ability, such as scorpions, are suitable for using as a model to infer the effects of environmental constraints of variation in species assemblages (Polis 1993;Husemann et al 2012;Nime et al 2014;Lira et al 2019b), even at small spatial scales (Nime et al 2013;Foord et al 2015;Dionisio-da-Silva et al 2018). Nevertheless, the knowledge regarding scorpion ecology in South America is scarce, especially those from open vegetation formations, such as the Chaco (Nime et al 2014) and the Caatinga (Porto et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

Foerster¹,

Lira²,

Almeida³

2020

NBC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Even at the local scale, environmental changes due of anthropogenic actions represent a source of disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems, forcing species to respond according to their ecological plasticity. Thus, stenotopic species and those with low-dispersal ability will likely be negatively affected by landscape modifications that reduce environmental complexity. In this study, we identify and quantify the effects of biotic and abiotic factors related to habitat complexity on the variation in scorpion assemblages in terms of both species’ richness, abundance and composition across 18 transects covering Caatinga landscapes with different levels of degradation. Using ultraviolet flashlights, we sampled 269 scorpions, belonging to six species and two families. The results showed contrasting patterns of species richness and abundance that depend on the level of habitat complexity. More specifically, we reported that scorpion species richness could be predicted by the number of trees, while the coefficient of variation of the diameter at breast height of trees (cvDBH) is a predictor of scorpion abundance. These findings suggest that vegetation structure is deterministic for the maintenance of scorpion assemblages in Caatinga landscapes. In addition, the cvDBH and tree number may explain 39% and 40% of the variability observed amongst scorpion assemblages in terms of richness difference and species composition, respectively. This study provides insights concerning the development of conservation strategies, clarifying the role of habitat complexity for the preservation of low-dispersal animals in neglected environments, such as those within the Caatinga domain.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

Foerster¹,

Lira²,

Almeida³

2020

NBC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…; Dionisio‐da‐Silva et al . ). Similarly, T. brazilae is a corticolous scorpion that exhibits an intimate relationship with the bark of trees, which it uses as a refuge (Bertani et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Ananteris mauryi is a small species (20-25 mm) considered humicolous because it depends on places with high humidity, such as the lower layers of litter, to establish its populations (Lourenc ßo 1982;Lira et al 2013). Tityus pusillus is a scorpion that, despite being found in Caatinga vegetation, is sensitive to environmental changes such as those caused by habitat fragmentation Dionisio-da-Silva et al 2018). Similarly, T. brazilae is a corticolous scorpion that exhibits an intimate relationship with the bark of trees, which it uses as a refuge (Bertani et al 2008;.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scorpions show associations with many physical (precipitation, soil type, temperature, light levels and microhabitat availability) and biological (vegetation type and distribution) factors (e.g. Prendini 2001;Druce et al 2007;Nime et al 2014;Foord et al 2015;Lira et al 2016Dionisio-da-Silva et al 2018). For example, Lira et al (2019) investigated the patterns of scorpion diversity across a bioclimatic gradient along 712 km of wet-dry forests in Brazil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Potential distribution patterns of scorpions in north‐eastern Brazil under scenarios of future climate change

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current predictions about the responses of species to climate change strongly rely on projecting altered environmental conditions on their distributions. In this study, we investigated the effects of future climate change scenarios on the potential distribution of 10 species of scorpions in north‐eastern Brazil in the context of their degree of specialisation to closed (Atlantic and Amazon Forests) and open (Caatinga and Cerrado) habitats. Scorpion species were classified as habitat specialists or generalists according to the IndVal index, and present and future species distribution models were prepared using minimum volume ellipsoids. According to IndVal, four species were classified as closed‐forest specialists (Ananteris mauryi, Tityus brazilae, Tityus pusillus and Tityus neglectus), four as open‐forest specialists (Jaguajir agamemnon, Jaguajir rochae, Physoctonus debilis and Bothriurus rochai), and two as generalists (Tityus stigmurus and Bothriurus asper). All species presented a drastic reduction in potential distribution, ranging from 44% to 72%, when compared with their current distribution. In addition, we found a reduction in scorpion species richness under future climate change scenarios. This finding has implications for scorpion conservation. Further, the results show that climate change may impact the composition of scorpion assemblages in north‐eastern Brazil, revealing important implications for human–scorpion interactions.

show abstract

Latitudinal Trends in Scorpion Assemblages of Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Do the Rapoport’s and Bergmann’s Rules Apply?

Lira

Andrade²,

Foerster³

2023

Neotropical Gradients and Their Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest

Cited by 27 publications

References 52 publications

Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

Potential distribution patterns of scorpions in north‐eastern Brazil under scenarios of future climate change

Latitudinal Trends in Scorpion Assemblages of Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Do the Rapoport’s and Bergmann’s Rules Apply?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About