Natural and human impacts on invertebrate communities in Brazilian caves

Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes; Horta, Lília

doi:10.1590/s0034-71082001000100003

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…Human actions have generated major changes in cave ecosystems, such as cave suppression, alterations in water dynamics, eutrophication of waterways, changes in food supply, among others (Gibert, 1997;Horta & Ferreira, 2001;Elliott, 2005). Cave entrances are regions that often undergo changes and impacts of anthropogenic nature, such as deforestation, corral setups, residential construction, material deposits, dams, shrines, tourist infrastructure and even scientific research (e.g., paleontological and archaeological excavations).…”

Section: Final Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The entrance as a complex ecotone in a Neotropical cave

Prous¹,

Ferreira²,

Jacobi³

2015

IJS

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Abstract:Cave entrances are transition zones with intermediate characteristics between epigean environments, which bear lower environmental stability, and hypogean environments, with lower food resources. Associated to these interfaces there is a specific community, capable of exploiting its unique and intermediate characteristics. This work investigated this community in a Brazilian limestone cave, identifying its arthropod species composition and spatial distribution, and exploring its relationships with climatic and structural environment characteristics and trophic relations. An ecotone zone was identified, with 55 species found only in the ecotone, 49 species were shared with the epigean community, 37 species with the hypogean community, and 14 species were found in the three communities. Although detritus is the base of the trophic web in the entrance, light allows the establishment of some producers and even herbivores. Species diversity in the ecotone was intermediate to that of the adjacent environments. Light is the main filter that acts near the cave entrance and determines the presence and distribution of several species in the ecotone. Therefore, this region is important for the cave ecosystem as a whole, considering that a considerable amount of trophic resources is transferred from the epigean to the hypogean environment through this area. Accordingly, conservation and management strategies regarding cave communities should incorporate actions to study and protect ecotonal communities.

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Section: Final Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The entrance as a complex ecotone in a Neotropical cave

Prous¹,

Ferreira²,

Jacobi³

2015

IJS

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“…In South America, the best characterised caves are in central Brazil and include the Serra do Ramalho karst area in Bahia state, well known for its populations of the troglomorphic catfish Rhamdia enfurnada Bichuette & Trajano, 2005(e.g. Mattox et al 2008, and Minas Gerais state, which is well known for its troglobitic invertebrate fauna (Ferriera and Horta 2001;Souza and Ferreira 2010). Future work would benefit from assessment of the geology and current literature of these continents as indicators of possible new areas of rich biodiversity.…”

Section: Possible Subterranean Biodiversity Hotspots Elsewhere In Thementioning

confidence: 99%

VIEWPOINT. Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse?

Guzik

Austin

Cooper

et al. 2010

Invert. Systematics

107

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Abstract. Australia was historically considered a poor prospect for subterranean fauna but, in reality, the continent holds a great variety of subterranean habitats, with associated faunas, found both in karst and non-karst environments. This paper critically examines the diversity of subterranean fauna in several key regions for the mostly arid western half of Australia. We aimed to document levels of species richness for major taxon groups and examine the degree of uniqueness of the fauna. We also wanted to compare the composition of these ecosystems, and their origins, with other regions of subterranean diversity world-wide. Using information on the number of 'described' and 'known' invertebrate species (recognised based on morphological and/or molecular data), we predict that the total subterranean fauna for the western half of the continent is 4140 species, of which~10% is described and 9% is 'known' but not yet described. The stygofauna, water beetles, ostracods and copepods have the largest number of described species, while arachnids dominate the described troglofauna. Conversely, copepods, water beetles and isopods are the poorest known groups with less than 20% described species, while hexapods (comprising mostly Collembola, Coleoptera, Blattodea and Hemiptera) are the least known of the troglofauna. Compared with other regions of the world, we consider the Australian subterranean fauna to be unique in its diversity compared with the northern hemisphere for three key reasons: the range and diversity of subterranean habitats is both extensive and novel; direct faunal links to ancient Pangaea and Gondwana are evident, emphasising their early biogeographic history; and Miocene aridification, rather than Pleistocene post-ice age driven diversification events

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“…BIOLOGICAL RELEVANCE AND ENDEMISMS Many studies regarding the subterranean fauna have been conducted in different regions of Brazil (Bento 2011;Bernardi et al 2012;Cordeiro 2008;Ferreira 2004;Ferreira & Horta 2001;Ferreira et al 2009;Ferreira et al 2010;Santana et al 2010;Souza 2012;Souza-Silva et al 2011a,b;Zampaulo 2010;Zeppelini Filho et al 2003;Fundação Estadual do Estado de São Paulo 2010a,b,c,d). The average richness of those studies is 50 species (±20).…”

Section: Recommendations Endemic Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cave Invertebrates in Northwestern Minas Gerais State, Brazil: Endemism, Threats and Conservation Priorities

Simões

Souza‐Silva

Ferreira

2014

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Lopes Ferreira: Jamski nevretenčarji v severozahodnem predelu Minas Gerais, Brazilija: endemizem, ogroženost in vidiki varovanja Kraška področja in jame v Braziliji so zaradi visoke gospodarske vrednosti že desetletja prizadeta. Posledično so, zlasti v zadnjih letih, pritegnila pozornost upravljalcev, okoljskih agencij in raziskovalcev. V pričujoči študiji so zbrani podatki o jamski favni severozahodnega območja Minas Gerais v Braziliji s poudarkom na bogastvu vrst in endemizmu, poleg ugotovljenih vplivov in nevarnosti, ki se pojavljajo v teh okoljih ter jam in drugih ranljivih predelov, za katere predlagamo ukrepe za njihovo ohranitev. Tri jame so bile opredeljene kot prednostne za ohranitev: jama Lagoa Rica v Paracatu in jami Lapa Nova in Lapa da Delza v Vazante. Poleg tega so bile prepoznane tri regije, kjer naj bi se izvajali ukrepi varovanja: Arinos, Paracatu in Cabeceira Grande/Unaí. Največja grožnja na teh območjih, kjer je registriranih 85% jam, je izsekavanje gozdov in sprememba v pašnike za vzgojo govedoreje. Glavna priporočila so zaščita področja, ozaveščanje prebivalstva in biospeleološke raziskave v drugih jamah na proučevanem območju. Vse raziskovane jame so heterogene, z edinstvenimi lastnostmi. Priporočene so raziskave v čim večjem številu jam, kot dodana vrednost pri načrtih za ohranjanje in varovanje jamske favne. Ključne besede: nevretenčarji, jame, varovanje, endemizem. attention of managers, environmental agencies and researchers, especially in recent years. The present study collected information regarding the cave invertebrate fauna of the Northwest region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, such as species richness and endemisms, besides the impacts and threats occurring in these environments, identifying caves and more vulnerable areas and proposing conservation actions. Three caves were identified as a priority for conservation: Lagoa Rica cave in Paracatu, and Lapa Nova and Lapa da Delza caves in Vazante. Another three areas were considered in need of conservation actions: regions of Arinos, Paracatu and Cabeceira Grande/Unaí. The main threat found in the area was the conversion of forests into pastures for cattle breeding, registered in the surroundings of 85% of the caves. The main recommendations were the recuperation of the surroundings, awareness raising of the population and biospeleological inventories in other caves of the area. The studied caves were very heterogeneous, presenting unique characteristics. Thus, the study of the highest possible number of caves of the region of interest is always recommended, to aid in conservation and action plans for cave fauna.

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Natural and human impacts on invertebrate communities in Brazilian caves

Cited by 29 publications

References 4 publications

The entrance as a complex ecotone in a Neotropical cave

The entrance as a complex ecotone in a Neotropical cave

VIEWPOINT. Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse?

Cave Invertebrates in Northwestern Minas Gerais State, Brazil: Endemism, Threats and Conservation Priorities

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