Study on the distribution and use of space in harvestmen Jussara sp. (Arachnida, Opiliones, Eupnoi)

• Grant number: 11/12896-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
• Grantee: Guilherme Ferreira Pagoti
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/00915-0 - Chemical communication in harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): morphology, behavior and chemistry, AP.JP

Abstract

The spatial distribution of animal populations in an Atlantic forest is greatly influenced by the heterogeneity of the environment. The more heterogeneous the habitat, the greater the variation of microclimates and microhabitats caused by the resources available. This influences directly or indirectly the distribution of animals. Other important aspects in the spatial distribution are the selective pressures present in the environment and the interactions between conspecifics of a population. In some harvestmen species, the preference by different microhabitats is seasonal or vary daily. Other species aggregate and some migrate vertically in search of specific resources. This study aims to investigate the use of habitat in the species Jussara sp. (Arachnida, Opiliones, Eupnoi), obtaining information on spatial distribution of males and females, preference for different micro-habitats and displacement within a day. To collect such data, harvestmen within a transect will be individually marked and monitored throughout the months. The transect will be visited at least twice a month, when all the animals will be marked and recaptured. These data will be crossed with the time of year, temperature, humidity and hour of the day.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAGOTI, GUILHERME FERREIRA; WILLEMART, RODRIGO HIRATA. Strong seasonality and clear choice of resting plant in a Neotropical harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones). JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY, v. 43, n. 2, p. 207-213, 2015. (10/00915-0, 11/12896-3)