How important are environmental factors for the population structure of co-occurring scorpion species in a tropical forest?

Abstract

Understanding scorpion responses to environmental disturbances in forest remnants is important because, as generalist predators, they exert pressure on a wide variety of arthropod populations that contribute to forest health. In this study, we investigate the drivers of scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 abundance in 11 Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnants. Six environmental factors (litter dry mass, remnant area, leaf litter depth, diameter at breast height of tree, canopy openness, and tree density) were assessed. Field surveys were conducted at night using ultraviolet lamps. From a sample of 1125 captured specimens, approximately 90% were T. pusillus and 7% were A. mauryi. The abundance of T. pusillus, but not A. mauryi, was positively correlated with litter dry mass. Other variables had no effect on the abundance of either species. These results suggest differences in the response of the species to environmental factors on a smaller scale. Behavior difference in foraging between T. pusillus (sit-and-wait) and A. mauryi (wandering) and microhabitat selection may also contribute to explain the influence of litter dry mass on the abundance of T. pusillus but not on the abundance of A. mauryi.

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

“…Tityus pusillus is a scorpion that, despite being found in Caatinga vegetation, is sensitive to environmental changes such as those caused by habitat fragmentation (Lira et al . ; Dionisio‐da‐Silva et al . ).…”

Niche partitioning in congeneric scorpions

“…The aim of this study was to determine niche differences between sympatric subgroups of Centruroides inhabiting the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Although previous studies have explored microhabitat, diet, and temporal activity within conspecific and congeneric scorpion species (Nime, Casanoves, & Camilo, ; Polis, , , ; Polis & Farley, ; Polis & McCormick, ; Shehab, Amr, & Lindsel, ), there has been little attention to microhabitat use by tropical scorpions (Lira & Souza, ; Lira, DeSouza, & Alberquerque, ; Lira, Rego, & Albuquerque, ; Lira, Souza, Silva Filho, & Albuquerque, ). Furthermore, environmental data have not been used to discern niche differences in congeneric scorpions to the same degree as other arachnid groups (Mammola, Piano, & Isaia, ; Michalko & Pekar, ; Villanueva‐Bonilla, Safuan‐Naide, Pires, & Vasconcellos‐Neto, ).…”

“…The aim of this study was to determine niche differences between sympatric subgroups of Centruroides inhabiting the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Although previous studies have explored microhabitat, diet, and temporal activity within conspecific and congeneric scorpion species (Nime, Casanoves, & Camilo, 2016;Polis, 1980Polis, , 1984Polis, , 1990Polis & Farley, 1980;Polis & McCormick, 1987;Shehab, Amr, & Lindsel, 2011), there has been little attention to microhabitat use by tropical scorpions (Lira & Souza, 2014;Lira, DeSouza, & Alberquerque, 2018;Lira, Rego, & Albuquerque, 2015;Lira, Souza, Silva Filho, & Albuquerque, 2013).…”

Sexual dimorphism and reproductive behavior in the Brazilian scorpion Tityus pusillus (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

“…In this study, we investigated SD and mating behaviors of Tityus pusillus Pocock 1893, the most abundant scorpion species in the northeast Atlantic Forest in Brazil (Lira & Albuquerque ; Lira et al. , ). More specifically, we investigated: (1) sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in overall body size and SD in specific body components (SBCD); (2) mating behavior; (3) aspects of reproductive success, such as multiple matings and the duration of spermatophore production; and (4) the duration of the gestational period.…”