Taxonomic distinctness and conservation of a new high biodiversity subterranean area in Brazil

Autor(es)

Gallao, Jonas E. ^[1] ; Bichuette, Maria Elina ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Ecol & Evolut Biol, Lab Estudos Subterraneos, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 87, n. 1, p. 209+, MAR 2015.
• Citações Web of Science: 19

Resumo

Subterranean environments, even though they do not possess a primary production (photosynthesis), may present high biodiversity, faunistic originality, endemism, phylogenetic isolations and unique ecological and/or evolution events, in addition to rare taxa. Studies investigating the biological diversity in Neotropical caves are relatively rare and recent, and most of them have been conducted in Brazil. We sampled caves from the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, and through sampling sufficiency tests and richness estimators, we demonstrate that the normatization for the Brazilian cave laws is not adequate for its conservation and that only a diversity index is not enough to verify faunistic patterns. We suggest that a phylogenetic diversity index be more robust and accurate for conservation purposes, particularly the Taxonomic Distinctness index. Moreover, we propose that the sandstone complex caves from Chapada Diamantina National Park need to be classified as being of high subterranean biodiversity in a global scope. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/05678-7 - Ecologia populacional e comportamento de peixes subterrâneos brasileiros, gêneros Glaphyropoma e Copionodon Pinna, 1992 (Siluriformes: Trichomycteriadae: Copionodontinae) da Chapada Diamantina, Bahia central
• Beneficiário: Maria Elina Bichuette
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular