Vertical and time distribution of Pseudoscorpiones (Arthropoda: Arachnida) in a floodplain forest in the Brazilian Pantanal

Abstract

Pseudoscorpions embrace a diverse group of arachnids with approximately 3 500 species that occur in various habitats, such as soil, leaf litter, caves and canopies. This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between the pseudoscorpion assemblages in soil, termite nests, tree trunks and canopies, as well as the temporal distribution as to the abundance and richness of species in these habitats. For this purpose different sampling techniques were applied in an integrated manner in distinct habitats of a seasonally flooded monodominant forest in the Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Data regarding the abundance and richness of assemblage species were organized by means of the Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS). A total of 2 068 Pseudoscorpiones distributed in seven families and 18 species were captured. Chernetidae (8 spp.) and Withiidae (5 spp.) predominated, while Atemnidae, Cheiridiidae, Geogarypidae, Lechytiidae and Olpiidae were present with only one species each. Terrestrial fauna was more abundant (1 035 ind.; 50.0 % of the total catch) with three families and 10 species. In the arboreal fauna (712 ind.; 34.4 %), four families and 13 species were found. Termite mounds (321 ind.; 15.6 %) corresponded to the habitat with the least number of individuals, however, five families and nine species were identified, including Parachernes sp. 2, Geogarypus sp. and Olpiolum sp., not found in other analyzed habitats in this forest. The analyses did not show any temporal variation as to abundance or richness of Pseudoscorpiones in each evaluated habitat; however, the analysis showed that the edaphic environment (soil + termite nests), tree trunks and tree canopies are distinct habitats in relation to the composition of the assemblage. The occurrence of typical terricolous (e.g. Parawithius sp., Withiidae gen. sp. and Parachernes sp.) and other arboricolous (e.g. Cheiridium sp., Americhernes sp. and Lustrochernes sp.) species highlights the vertical stratification of the assemblage present in this floodplain forest in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (2): 445-459. Epub 2017 June 01.

Aproximación a la fauna de pseudoescorpiones (Arthropoda: Arachnida) del departamento de Sucre, Caribe colombiano

“…Constituyen un grupo mesodiverso de arácnidos (HARVEY, 2013); sin embargo, solo seis especies fueron registradas presentando una baja riqueza para las localidades muestreadas en este estudio, algunos autores como WEYGOLDT (1969); GABBUTT (1970); MORÁIS y ADIS (1997); AGUIAR et al (2006) sugieren una estrecha relación de la abundancia de los pseudoescorpiones con la estructura vegetal de la zona; asimismo, estos arácnidos se encuentran ocupando uno o varios microhábitats BATTIROLA et al, 2017).…”

“…La mayoría de las especies de pseudoescorpiones son terrícolas y su presencia en corteza se asocia a fenómenos de migración o sitios de anidación (WEYGOLDT, 1969;BATTIROLA et al, 2017). Asimismo, la baja frecuencia en el suelo se puede asociar con adaptaciones a la vida de estos entornos sometidos a variaciones en las condiciones de la estructura vegetal (MORAIS y ADIS, 1997;BATTIROLLA et al, 2017), presentes en áreas de sabana y zonas de cultivo.…”

Canopy Ant Assemblage (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Two Vegetation Formations in the Northern Brazilian Pantanal

“…The structure of vegetation in monodominant and mixed-species habitats associated with seasonal flooding makes both, fauna and flora, present specific adaptations which allow for their survival in this type of habitat (Adis et al, 2001;Arieira & Nunes-da-Cunha, 2006;Battirola et al, 2007Battirola et al, , 2009Battirola et al, , 2017aRebellato et al, 2013;Tissiani et al, 2015). In the northern Pantanal region of Mato Grosso, specific strategies were recorded for different species of arthropods, including ants, involving vertical displacement to higher habitats such as tree trunks and canopies, horizontal displacement along the flood line (Adis et al, 2001;Wantzen et al 2016), and temporary displacement between terrestrial habitats (Meurer et al, 2015;Yamazaki et al, 2015Yamazaki et al, , 2016Yamazaki et al, , 2017.…”

Nuevos registros de pseudoescorpiones (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) de Colombia

“…Las evidencias asocian a los integrantes de la familia Withiidae a este tipo de microhábitat (Battirola et al, 2017). Aunque poco se conoce sobre la ecología de estas dos especies, es posible afirmar que éstas prefieren ocupar hábitats naturales con alto grado de conservación.…”

“…Algunos autores como Weygoldt (1969), Gabbutt (1970), de Morais et al (1997, o Aguiar et al (2006) sugieren una estrecha relación de la abundancia de los pseudoescorpiones con la estructura vegetal de la zona; asimismo, estos arácnidos se encuentran ocupando uno o varios microhábitats (Murienne et al, 2008;Battirola et al, 2017). Por tanto, con mayor esfuerzo de muestreo explorando otros hábitats y empleando otras técnicas de muestreo, se podrán obtener mayores valores de riqueza de la fauna de pseudoescorpiones (Bedoya-Roqueme et al, 2017b).…”