Richness and taxonomic distinctness of cave invertebrates from the northeastern state of Goias, central Brazil: a vulnerable and singular area

Autor(es)

Bichuette, Maria Elina ^[1] ; Simoes, Luiza Bertelli ^[2] ; Zepon, Tamires ^[1] ; von Schimonsky, Diego Monteiro ^[1] ; Gallao, Jonas Eduardo ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, Lab Estudos Subterraneos, Via Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY; v. 29, p. 1-33, JAN 3 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

The karst area of the northeastern state of Goias comprises two main municipalities: Sao Domingos and Posse. Sao Domingos is inside the limits of a Full Protection Conservation Unit known as Parque Estadual de Terra Ronca (PETeR), where a high number of caves occurs, some of them surpassing 10 km in length. Despite their protection by law, uncontrolled tourism has been threatening the integrity of the unique and fragile cave systems of Sao Domingos. On the other hand, the caves of Posse are much less visited, with its subterranean fauna poorly unknown and are strongly threatened by the urban areas and mining activities in the vicinity. We conducted six systematic surveys of invertebrates in 12 caves, seven of which are located in Sao Domingos and five in Posse, between 2010 and 2012. Immediately outside the caves, we sampled several microhabitats for comparison. We estimated richness, abundance, and taxonomic distinctness of the communities. We recorded 1,941 individuals of 344 morphospecies. Caves from Sao Domingos showed a higher species richness and were more taxonomic distinct than caves from Posse. Most morphospecies were considered troglophiles (188). We also found one trogloxene and one troglobite, as well as nine troglomorphic taxa that possibly are troglobitic as well. Both regions have markedly singular caves regarding its subterranean fauna, with high values of taxonomic distinctness. However, the richer caves were not necessarily the most taxonomic distinct. Conservation measures are especially necessary in the region of Posse, where caves are not legally protected and are within an area of significant urbanization. Cave entrances of Posse are near deforested vicinities, in some cases with domestic wastes and cement plants nearby. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/08459-4 - As áreas cársticas de São Desidério, serra do Ramalho (sudoeste da Bahia) e São Domingos (nordeste de Goiás) representam hot spots de biodiversidade? Análise das comunidades cavernícolas e critérios para sua proteção
• Beneficiário: Maria Elina Bichuette
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 98/13858-1 - Ecologia populacional e comportamento de peixes cavernícolas, Trichomycterus sp. e Eigenmannia vicentespelaea, em uma área cárstica da região de São Domingos, GO (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae; Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae)
• Beneficiário: Maria Elina Bichuette
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado