A protocol for the delimitation of areas of endemism and the historical regionalization of the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest using harvestmen distribution data

Abstract

The concept of areas of endemism (AoEs) has rarely been discussed in the literature, even though the use of methods to ascertain them has recently increased. We introduce a grid-based protocol for delimiting AoEs using alternative criteria for the recognition of AoEs that are empirically tested with harvestmen species distributions in the Atlantic Rain Forest. Our data, comprising 778 records of 123 species, were analysed using parsimony analysis of endemicity and endemicity analysis on four different grids (two cell sizes and two cell placements). Additionally, we employed six qualitative combined criteria for the delimitation of AoEs and applied them to the results of the numerical analyses in a new protocol to objectively delimit AoEs. Twelve AoEs (the most detailed delimitation of the Atlantic Rain Forest so far) were delimited, partially corroborating the main divisions previously established in the literature. The results obtained with the grid-based methods were contradictory and were plagued by artefacts, probably due to the existence of different endemism patterns in one cell or to a biogeographical barrier set obliquely to latitudinal and longitudinal axes, for example. Consequently, the congruence patterns found by them should not be considered alone; qualitative characteristics of species and clade distributions and abiotic factors should be evaluated together. Mountain slopes are the main regions of endemism, and large river valleys are the main divisions. Refuges, marine transgressions and tectonic activity seem to have played an important role in the evolution of the Atlantic Rain Forest.

Areas of endemism of arthropods in the Atlantic Forest (Brazil): an approach based on a metaconsensus criterion using endemicity analysis

“…Although considered superior to other existing methods (Carine et al, 2009;Escalante, Szumik & Morrone, 2009;Casagranda, Taher & Szumik, 2012), the use of quantitive methods for AE identification, such as NDM-VNDM, requires caution: the results may be affected by each combination of analytical parameters employed, favouring areas with particular characteristics (DaSilva, Pinto-da-Rocha & DeSouza, 2015). To identify congruence among the results, researchers have been employing two different approaches: (1) a comparison of the results obtained from different methods (Moline & Linder, 2006;Carine et al, 2009;DaSilva et al, 2015) or (2) the use of different sets of parameters under a particular method (e.g.…”

“…To identify congruence among the results, researchers have been employing two different approaches: (1) a comparison of the results obtained from different methods (Moline & Linder, 2006;Carine et al, 2009;DaSilva et al, 2015) or (2) the use of different sets of parameters under a particular method (e.g. Domingu ez et al, 2006;Casagranda, Roig-Juñent & Szumik, 2009;Prado et al, 2014).…”

“…In either case, the number of resulting areas can be high and difficult to assess even under a consensus criterion. Different approaches have been proposed to deal with high number of resulting areas, either through spatial overlap of AEs (Prado et al, 2014;Mart ınez-Hern andez et al, 2015) or by the use of combined quantitative criteria to choose AEs (DaSilva et al, 2015). As an alternative to employing different sets of parameters under a particular method, Ribeiro et al (2014) proposed a methodology for defining suitable values of grid size and the level of inclusiveness of consensus areas under objective criteria.…”

Integrative taxonomy reveals a new genus and new species of Philosciidae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from the Neotropical region

“…Taxonomic studies are the foundation of biological research and naming newly delimited species should be strongly stimulated. (see also Almeida and Carneiro 1998;Mohriak 2003;DaSilva et al 2015;Thomaz et al 2015).…”

“…As previously mentioned, A. floridana is recorded from coastal regions of Florida, USA until north of Argentina, and Ascension and St. Helena islands. Along this wide distribution range many historical barriers are well known (i. e., Nihei and Carvalho 2007;Morrone 2014;Silva and Noll 2014;DaSilva et al 2015). Thus, the distribution of A. floridana is probably the result of human introductions (see also Ferrara and Taiti 1981).…”