ABSTRACT. Quadrat sampling is a method used for a long time in plant ecology studies but only recently it has been used with focus on fauna. For the cave fauna samplings, there are rare works applying this methodology. The present study compared the methods of quadrat sampling with direct search qualitative for terrestrial cave fauna. For this, we conducted five sampling collections in a limestone cave in central Brazil. Quadrat sampling contributed with 121 exclusive species and 716 specimens and direct search qualitative method contributed with 91 exclusive species and 355 specimens. Mann-Whitney test evidenced significant differences between the two methods. We demonstrated that quadrat sampling method was slightly more efficient to analyze the species richness and much more effective to assess the abundance than the use of only direct search qualitative method, mainly considering tiny and/or cryptobiotic invertebrates (e.g., earth worms, symphylans, psocopterans, trichopterans, dipterans, small spiders, and small isopods). We recommend the association of different methods to test patterns in cave fauna, since incomplete sampling may lead to erroneous estimates and equivocated decisions about management, impact studies and cave conservation. A eficácia do método de amostragem por quadrados em levantamentos da fauna terrestre cavernícola -um estudo de caso em uma caverna Neotropical RESUMO. Amostragem por quadrados é um método utilizado há muito tempo em estudos ecológicos botânicos e apenas recentemente tem sido utilizado com foco em estudos faunísticos. Para amostragens em cavernas, raros trabalhos aplicaram esta metodologia. Nosso trabalho compara o método de amostragem por quadrados com o de busca ativa qualitativa sobre a fauna cavernícola terrestre. Para tal, realizamos cinco eventos de coleta em uma caverna calcária do Brasil central. A amostragem, utilizando o método de quadrados, contribuiu com 121 espécies exclusivas e 716 espécimes. O método de busca ativa contribuiu com 91 espécies exclusivas e 355 espécimes. O teste de Mann-Whitney mostrou diferenças significativas entre os dois métodos. Demonstramos que o método de amostragem de quadrados foi sutilmente mais eficiente para acessar a riqueza de espécies e muito mais efetivo para acessar a abundância do que apenas a utilização do método qualitativo de busca ativa, principalmente para invertebrados diminutos e/ou criptobióticos (por exemplo, vermes, sínfilos, psocópteros, tricópteros, dípteros, pequenas aranhas e pequenos isópodes). Recomendamos o uso de métodos combinados para o teste de padrões da fauna cavernícola, uma vez que amostragens incompletas podem levar a estimativas erradas e decisões equivocadas acerca de manejo, estudos de impacto e conservação de cavernas.Palavras-chave: fauna cavernícola, invertebrados terrestres, Brasil central, metodologia de amostragem.

Studies focusing cave fauna on granitic caves are relatively rare when compared to carbonatic ones and no one considered replicas in the sampling to test fauna distribution patterns. We describe the terrestrial fauna of Riacho Subterrâneo cave through four sampling occasions (replicas) in different seasons. We analyzed seasonality and substrate preference of terrestrial invertebrates and discussed the importance of this neglected habitat as a refuge for fauna. Furthermore, we stressed the importance of the replicas in order to detect subterranean biodiversity patterns. The cave represents the greatest richness considering igneous rocks in Brazil (199 taxa) and has an important role as refuge for epigean fauna, besides the maintenance of troglophilic and trogloxene populations.

BackgroundThe endemic and threatened troglobites (organisms restricted to caves) Charinus eleonorae (Amblypygi) and Iandumoema uai (Opiliones), both from Olhos d’Água cave, located at Peruaçu Caves National Park (southeast Brazil), have their distribution expanded for a new locality inside of the National Park (Lapa do Cipó cave), extending their distribution at least in 9.5km2.New informationThis new data suggest that these arachnids can be in a differentiation process and/or there are several possibilities of dispersion in the karst of Peruaçu. Indeed, a revision of their categorical status at IUCN Red List is necessary. We herein report a new distribution range (Lapa do Cipó cave) of the troglobitic species I. uai and C. eleonorae, which are, to date, known to occur in the Olhos d’Água cave, located at the Peruaçu Caves National Park (PCNP).

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.