Terrestrial fauna of the largest granitic cave from Southern Hemisphere, southeastern Brazil: A neglected habitat

Bichuette, Maria Elina; Nascimento, Ana Cláudia; Schimonsky, Diego Monteiro von; Gallão, Jonas E.; Resende, Leonardo Palloni Accetti; Zepon, Tamires

doi:10.4013/nbc.2017.122.01

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In this frame, our data emphasize the fact that the study of cave twilight zone communities should preferably incorporate a temporal perspective, as already suggested by other authors (e.g. Culver and Sket 2002, Bichuette et al 2017, Lunghi et al 2017.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…However, evidences have accumulated testifying that subterranean habitats are not entirely aseasonal Culver 1969, Tobin et al 2013), and that their inhabitants are not entirely arhythmic (Friedrich 2013, Abhilash et al 2017. Most subterranean habitats are indeed characterized by a constant flux of invaders and migrants (Chapman 1993, Culver and Sket 2002, Culver and Pipan 2009, Romero 2009, and there can be a temporal variability in the presence and distribution of vertebrates (e.g., Reichard et al 2009, Krofel 2010, Biswas 2014, Baker 2015, Ineich and Bourgoin 2016, Balogová et al 2017, Lunghi et al 2018) and invertebrates (e.g., Crouau-Roy et al 1992, Gnaspini et al 2003, Novak et al 2004, Papi and Pipan 2011, Tobin et al 2013, Mammola and Isaia 2014, Bento et al 2016, Mammola et al 2015, 2016a, Bichuette et al 2017, Lunghi et al 2017, Plăiaşu et al 2017 found in caves. For instance, invertebrates may move in search of food in larger cave chambers, and move back to the more stable fissures connected with caves in response to any physiological stress (Juberthie 1969, Chapman 1985.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Day–night and seasonal variations of a subterranean invertebrate community in the twilight zone

Mammola¹,

Isaia²

2018

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Being characterized by the absence of light and a reduced environmental cyclicity, the subterranean domain is generally regarded as temporally stable. Yet, in the proximity of cave entrances (twilight zones), patterns of sunlight and darkness can be detected within the 24-hour day–night cycle. In parallel, changes in the abiotic and biotic conditions are expected; however, these patterns have been rarely explored in animal communities dwelling in the twilight zone. We performed a biological investigation in a small abandoned mine in the Western Alps, monitoring it once per season, both during the day and at night. At each survey, we collected data on the spatial distribution of the resident species, their activity patterns, and the main microclimatic parameters. We observed significant daily variations in the environmental conditions during winter and spring, namely higher temperature, relative humidity and availability of trophic resources at night. In conjunction with these disparate nocturnal conditions, the abundance of troglophile species was also higher, as well as the activity patterns of one of the most frequent species inhabiting the entrance area – the orb-weaver spiderMetamenardi. We further documented temporal changes in the composition of the parietal community, due to species using the mine as a diurnal, nocturnal or overwintering shelter. Overall, our results suggest that the communities of the twilight zone are not temporally stable and we highlight the importance of taking into account not only their seasonal, but also their daily variations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Day–night and seasonal variations of a subterranean invertebrate community in the twilight zone

Mammola¹,

Isaia²

2018

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“…species exploiting subterranean habitats in certain phases of their life cycle (Diesel et al 1995, Polak 1997, Culver and Sket 2002, Glover and Altringham 2008, Novak et al 2010a, Chelini et al 2011, Polseela et al 2011, Baker 2015, Lipovšek et al 2016. As a direct consequence, there can be conspicuous temporal turnovers in the species composition in a typical subterranean community (Nitzu et al 2011, Bento et al 2016, Yun et al 2016, Bichuette et al 2017, especially in the vicinity of the surface (Rendoš et al 2012) which should be taken into account when designing ecological studies and sampling protocols (Culver and Sket 2002, Meleg et al 2015, Wynne et al 2018). For instance, different arthropods may actively move from larger cave chambers to the stable network of fissures and vice versa (Chapman 1985), or rearrange their spatial distribution along the cave length in different seasons (Crouau-Roy et al 1992, Mammola et al 2015a, 2017a, Lunghi et al 2017.…”

Section: Community Turnovermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, different arthropods may actively move from larger cave chambers to the stable network of fissures and vice versa (Chapman 1985), or rearrange their spatial distribution along the cave length in different seasons (Crouau-Roy et al 1992, Mammola et al 2015a, 2017a, Lunghi et al 2017. As a direct consequence, there can be conspicuous temporal turnovers in the species composition in a typical subterranean community (Nitzu et al 2011, Bento et al 2016, Yun et al 2016, Bichuette et al 2017, especially in the vicinity of the surface (Rendoš et al 2012) which should be taken into account when designing ecological studies and sampling protocols (Culver and Sket 2002, Meleg et al 2015, Wynne et al 2018).…”

Section: Community Turnovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Finding answers in the dark: caves as models in ecology fifty years after Poulson and White

2018

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The use of semi-isolated habitats such as oceanic islands, lakes and mountain summits as model systems has played a crucial role in the development of evolutionary and ecological theory. Soon after the discovery of life in caves, different pioneering authors similarly recognized the great potential of these peculiar habitats as biological model systems. In their 1969 paper in Science, 'The cave environment', Poulson and White discussed how caves can be used as natural laboratories in which to study the underlying principles governing the dynamics of more complex environments. Together with other seminal syntheses published at the time, this work contributed to establishing the conceptual foundation for expanding the scope and relevance of cave-based studies. Fifty years after, the aim of this review is to show why and how caves and other subterranean habitats can be used as eco-evolutionary laboratories. Recent advances and directions in different areas are provided, encompassing community ecology, trophicwebs and ecological networks, conservation biology, macroecology and climate change biology. Special emphasis is given to discuss how caves are only part of the extended network of fissures and cracks that permeate most substrates and, thus, their ecological role as habitat islands is critically discussed. Numerous studies have quantified the relative contribution of abiotic, biotic and historical factors in driving species distributions and community turnovers in space and time, from local to regional scales. Conversely, knowledge of macroecological patterns of subterranean organisms at a global scale remains largely elusive, due to major geographical and taxonomical biases. Also, knowledge regarding subterranean trophic webs and the effect of anthropogenic climate change on deep subterranean ecosystems is still limited. In these research fields, the extensive use of novel molecular and statistical tools may hold promise for quickly producing relevant information not accessible hitherto.

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“…Besides this, only a few approaches covered long-term samplings, with replicas enough to contemplate more than one annual cycle (e.g. Trajano 1991, Resende and Bichuette 2016, Zepon and Bichuette 2017. Most often in tropical caves, the seasonal oscillation is of great importance in the dynamics of the subterranean environments (Trajano 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Richness and taxonomic distinctness of cave invertebrates from the northeastern state of Goiás, central Brazil: a vulnerable and singular area

Bichuette¹,

Simões²,

Zepon³

et al. 2019

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The karst area of the northeastern state of Goiás comprises two main municipalities: São Domingos and Posse. São Domingos is inside the limits of a Full Protection Conservation Unit known as Parque Estadual de Terra Ronca (PETeR), where a high number of caves occurs, some of them surpassing 10 km in length. Despite their protection by law, uncontrolled tourism has been threatening the integrity of the unique and fragile cave systems of São Domingos. On the other hand, the caves of Posse are much less visited, with its subterranean fauna poorly unknown and are strongly threatened by the urban areas and mining activities in the vicinity. We conducted six systematic surveys of invertebrates in 12 caves, seven of which are located in São Domingos and five in Posse, between 2010 and 2012. Immediately outside the caves, we sampled several microhabitats for comparison. We estimated richness, abundance, and taxonomic distinctness of the communities. We recorded 1,941 individuals of 344 morphospecies. Caves from São Domingos showed a higher species richness and were more taxonomic distinct than caves from Posse. Most morphospecies were considered troglophiles (188). We also found one trogloxene and one troglobite, as well as nine troglomorphic taxa that possibly are troglobitic as well. Both regions have markedly singular caves regarding its subterranean fauna, with high values of taxonomic distinctness. However, the richer caves were not necessarily the most taxonomic distinct. Conservation measures are especially necessary in the region of Posse, where caves are not legally protected and are within an area of significant urbanization. Cave entrances of Posse are near deforested vicinities, in some cases with domestic wastes and cement plants nearby.

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Terrestrial fauna of the largest granitic cave from Southern Hemisphere, southeastern Brazil: A neglected habitat

Cited by 6 publications

References 12 publications

Day–night and seasonal variations of a subterranean invertebrate community in the twilight zone

Day–night and seasonal variations of a subterranean invertebrate community in the twilight zone

Finding answers in the dark: caves as models in ecology fifty years after Poulson and White

Richness and taxonomic distinctness of cave invertebrates from the northeastern state of Goiás, central Brazil: a vulnerable and singular area

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