1
|
Hernández-Lozano A, González-Zamora A, Baena ML, Perroni-Ventura Y, Juanz-Aguirre DG, Huesca-Domíguez I. Mountain caves of the central region of Veracruz: A vertebrate biodiversity reservoir in a Neotropical hotspot. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306105. [PMID: 39121157 PMCID: PMC11315317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The mountain region of central Veracruz, Mexico hosts a large system of karst and volcanic caves that are unexplored. In particular, the vertebrates that inhabit these subterranean ecosystems are unknown. This study evaluated the diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish in three environments (euphotic, disphotic, and aphotic) of 16 caves of different geological origin (12 karst caves and 4 volcanic caves) distributed along an altitudinal gradient (300-2400 m a.s.l.). We found a richness of 242 vertebrate species (184 birds, 30 mammals, 15 reptiles, 12 amphibians, and 1 fish) and an abundance of a total of 11,323 individuals (4,969 mammals, 6,483 birds, 36 reptiles, 27 amphibians, and 5 fish). The richness of all vertebrate classes was higher in karst than in volcanic caves. Vertebrate diversity was also higher at mid-altitudes between 600-899 m a.s.l. Diversity varied between environments, where bird and reptile richness was higher in the euphotic environment, while mammal and amphibian diversity was higher in the aphotic environment. The similarity in the composition of vertebrate species does not depend on the distance between karstic and volcanic caves. Volcanic and karst caves shared on average up to 70% and 55% of vertebrate species, which indicates that only 30% and 45% of species, respectively, is different in each cave type. Given the vulnerability and fragility of these subterranean ecosystems, as well as the important diversity that they contain, we recommend including the caves of the central region of Veracruz in the conservation agenda of local governments and communities. Community-based conservation can help ensure the presence of vertebrate species in the caves of this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Hernández-Lozano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Posgrado en Biología Integrativa, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
- Unidad de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre La Coruja, Alberto Calderón, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Arturo González-Zamora
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Academia de Zoología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Martha L. Baena
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Academia de Zoología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Yareni Perroni-Ventura
- Instituto de Ecología y Biotecnología Aplicada, Campus para la Cultura, las Artes y el Deporte, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Diana Gisell Juanz-Aguirre
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Posgrado en Biología Integrativa, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
- Unidad de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre La Coruja, Alberto Calderón, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Israel Huesca-Domíguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Academia de Zoología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bogoni JA, Carvalho‐Rocha V, Silva PG. Spatial and land‐use determinants of bat species richness, functional diversity, and site uniqueness throughout the largest Tropical country, Brazil. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliano A. Bogoni
- Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘Luiz de Queiroz’ Laboratório de Ecologia Manejo e Conservação de Fauna Silvestre (LEMaC) Universidade de São Paulo Piracicaba SP13418‐900Brazil
| | - Vítor Carvalho‐Rocha
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Florianópolis88037‐000Brazil
| | - Pedro Giovâni Silva
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Sida Silvestre Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais31270‐901Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stevens RD. Dietary affinities, resource overlap and core structure in Atlantic Forest phyllostomid bat communities. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard D. Stevens
- Department of Natural Resources Management and Natural Science Research Laboratory of the Museum Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas79409USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic bat diversity decrease from more to less complex natural habitats in the Amazon. Oecologia 2021; 197:223-239. [PMID: 34368898 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The high levels of biodiversity in the Amazon are maintained mostly due to its composition as a natural mosaic of different habitats, including both unflooded and flooded forests, campinaranas, and savannahs. Here, we compared multiple dimensions of α- and β- bat biodiversity between four natural Amazonian habitats (savannah, campinarana, forest patches, and continuous forest). In addition, we explored the extent to which bat communities in the different habitats are nested within one another, and compared the community-level functional uniqueness and community-weighted mean traits between habitats. Our results show that taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α-diversity of bats is higher in continuous forest than in any of the other habitat types. The continuous forest also harbours more unique species, and indeed, the bat community assemblages in the less-complex habitats, including forest patches, campinarana and savannahs, are taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic sub-sets of the assemblage found in the continuous forest. By examining β-diversity partitions and species composition, we are able to shed light on the mechanisms behind the variation in diversity between the four habitat types, which reflect a process of environmental sorting along a habitat gradient going from a more complex to a less complex habitat. We conclude that nesting patterns along the mosaic of habitats are determined by differences in complexity between habitats and that taxonomic and functional uniqueness contribute to overall regional bat diversity and functionality. Ongoing human-induced disturbances of these habitats could provoke an unprecedented loss of bat diversity and functionality with negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Collapse
|