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Oliveira MPA, Ferreira RL. Extending beyond individual caves: a graph theory approach broadening conservation priorities in Amazon iron ore caves. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16877. [PMID: 38313035 PMCID: PMC10838110 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The Amazon is renowned worldwide for its biological significance, but it also harbors substantial mineral reserves. Among these, the ferruginous geosystems of the region are critical for iron ore extraction, accounting for 10% of Brazil's export revenue. Additionally, this region holds a significant speleological heritage with more than 1,000 caves. However, cave conservation efforts are often in conflict with land use, necessitating mediation through environmental regulations. While conservation decisions typically consider only the caves' characteristics, such an approach fails to account for the interactions among cave communities and their surrounding landscape. This poses a challenge to reserve design for cave conservation purposes. To address this issue, we assessed the predictors that influence the similarity among cave communities, suggesting the use of this parameter as a proxy for subterranean connectivity. Applying graph theory, we proposed a tool to aid in the selection of priority caves for conservation purposes. Our study involved the sampling of invertebrates in 69 iron ore caves and analyzing 28 environmental variables related to these subterranean habitats and adjacent landscape. Our analysis revealed that landscape and habitat characteristics are more important than geographical distance in determining patterns of similarity among caves. Our graph approach highlighted densely interconnected clusters based on similarity. However, specific caves stood out for harboring exclusive fauna and/or exhibiting habitat specificity, making them unique in the study area. Thus, we recommend prioritizing cave clusters for conservation, assembling both singular caves and others that influence them. It is crucial to note that protocols for the protection of subterranean biodiversity must consider measures that encompass both the caves and the surrounding landscape. Our methodology provides insights into the connectivity among caves, identifies existing groups, highlights singular (or unique) cavities that require preservation, and recognizes those influencing these unique habitats. This methodological advancement is crucial for the development of better conservation policies for the speleological heritage in areas under constant economic pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo L. Ferreira
- Center of Studies in Subterranean Biology, Ecology and Conservation Departament, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil
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2
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de Fraga R, Tavares V, Simões MH, Prous X, Girolamo-Neto C, Brandi IV, Oliveira G, Trevelin LC. Caves as wildlife refuges in degraded landscapes in the Brazilian Amazon. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6055. [PMID: 37055452 PMCID: PMC10102069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32815-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-habitat spillover may be the outcome of a process of habitat loss or degradation where the receiving habitat serves as a refuge for organisms. Once surface habitats are lost or degraded, animals can find underground refuge in caves. This paper is focused on testing whether taxonomic order richness inside caves is positively affected by the loss of the native vegetation cover surrounding caves; whether degradation of native vegetation cover predicts cave community composition; and whether there is a pattern of cave community clusters delimited by similarity in the effects of habitat degradation on animal communities. We gathered a comprehensive speleological dataset consisting of occurrence data of thousands of invertebrates and vertebrates sampled in 864 iron caves in the Amazon, to test the effects of both variables measured inside caves and surrounding landscapes on spatial variation in richness and composition of animal communities. We show that caves can work as refuges for the fauna in landscapes where the native vegetation cover surrounding them was degraded, which was evidenced by landcover change increasing the richness of cave communities and clustering caves by similarity in community composition. Therefore, habitat degradation on the surface should be a key variable when characterizing cave ecosystems for conservation prioritization and offset planning. Habitat degradation causing a cross-habitat spillover effect highlights the importance of maintaining the connection between caves by the surface, especially large caves. Our study can help guide industry and stakeholders working on the complex conciliation between land use and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael de Fraga
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | - Valéria Tavares
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | - Xavier Prous
- Environmental Licensing and Speleology, Vale S.A., Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cesare Girolamo-Neto
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Iuri V Brandi
- Environmental Licensing and Speleology, Vale S.A., Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Leonardo C Trevelin
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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3
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Cardoso RC, Ferreira RL, Souza-Silva M. Multi-spatial analysis on cave ecosystems to predict the diversity of subterranean invertebrates. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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4
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Mammola S, Meierhofer MB, Borges PA, Colado R, Culver DC, Deharveng L, Delić T, Di Lorenzo T, Dražina T, Ferreira RL, Fiasca B, Fišer C, Galassi DMP, Garzoli L, Gerovasileiou V, Griebler C, Halse S, Howarth FG, Isaia M, Johnson JS, Komerički A, Martínez A, Milano F, Moldovan OT, Nanni V, Nicolosi G, Niemiller ML, Pallarés S, Pavlek M, Piano E, Pipan T, Sanchez‐Fernandez D, Santangeli A, Schmidt SI, Wynne JJ, Zagmajster M, Zakšek V, Cardoso P. Towards evidence-based conservation of subterranean ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1476-1510. [PMID: 35315207 PMCID: PMC9545027 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Subterranean ecosystems are among the most widespread environments on Earth, yet we still have poor knowledge of their biodiversity. To raise awareness of subterranean ecosystems, the essential services they provide, and their unique conservation challenges, 2021 and 2022 were designated International Years of Caves and Karst. As these ecosystems have traditionally been overlooked in global conservation agendas and multilateral agreements, a quantitative assessment of solution-based approaches to safeguard subterranean biota and associated habitats is timely. This assessment allows researchers and practitioners to understand the progress made and research needs in subterranean ecology and management. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature focused on subterranean ecosystems globally (terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater systems), to quantify the available evidence-base for the effectiveness of conservation interventions. We selected 708 publications from the years 1964 to 2021 that discussed, recommended, or implemented 1,954 conservation interventions in subterranean ecosystems. We noted a steep increase in the number of studies from the 2000s while, surprisingly, the proportion of studies quantifying the impact of conservation interventions has steadily and significantly decreased in recent years. The effectiveness of 31% of conservation interventions has been tested statistically. We further highlight that 64% of the reported research occurred in the Palearctic and Nearctic biogeographic regions. Assessments of the effectiveness of conservation interventions were heavily biased towards indirect measures (monitoring and risk assessment), a limited sample of organisms (mostly arthropods and bats), and more accessible systems (terrestrial caves). Our results indicate that most conservation science in the field of subterranean biology does not apply a rigorous quantitative approach, resulting in sparse evidence for the effectiveness of interventions. This raises the important question of how to make conservation efforts more feasible to implement, cost-effective, and long-lasting. Although there is no single remedy, we propose a suite of potential solutions to focus our efforts better towards increasing statistical testing and stress the importance of standardising study reporting to facilitate meta-analytical exercises. We also provide a database summarising the available literature, which will help to build quantitative knowledge about interventions likely to yield the greatest impacts depending upon the subterranean species and habitats of interest. We view this as a starting point to shift away from the widespread tendency of recommending conservation interventions based on anecdotal and expert-based information rather than scientific evidence, without quantitatively testing their effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Mammola
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe)Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of HelsinkiPohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13Helsinki00100Finland
- Molecular Ecology Group (dark‐MEG)Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR)Largo Tonolli, 50Verbania‐Pallanza28922Italy
| | - Melissa B. Meierhofer
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus (LUOMUS)University of HelsinkiPohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13Helsinki00100Finland
| | - Paulo A.V. Borges
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes / Azorean Biodiversity Group / CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of Azores, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences and Environment (FCAA), Rua Capitão João d'ÀvilaPico da Urze, 9700‐042 Angra do HeroísmoAzoresPortugal
| | - Raquel Colado
- Departament of Ecology and HidrologyUniversity of MurciaMurcia30100Spain
| | - David C. Culver
- Department of Environmental ScienceAmerican University4400 Massachusetts Avenue, N.WWashingtonDC20016U.S.A.
| | - Louis Deharveng
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), CNRS UMR 7205, MNHN, UPMC, EPHEMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne UniversitéParisFrance
| | - Teo Delić
- SubBio Lab, Department of Biology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaJamnikarjeva 101Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET‐CNR), National Research CouncilVia Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto FiorentinoFlorenceItaly
| | - Tvrtko Dražina
- Division of Zoology, Department of BiologyFaculty of Science, University of ZagrebRooseveltov Trg 6Zagreb10000Croatia
- Croatian Biospeleological SocietyRooseveltov Trg 6Zagreb10000Croatia
| | - Rodrigo L. Ferreira
- Center of Studies in Subterranean Biology, Biology Department, Federal University of LavrasCampus universitário s/n, Aquenta SolLavrasMG37200‐900Brazil
| | - Barbara Fiasca
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental SciencesUniversity of L'AquilaVia Vetoio 1, CoppitoL'Aquila67100Italy
| | - Cene Fišer
- SubBio Lab, Department of Biology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaJamnikarjeva 101Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Diana M. P. Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental SciencesUniversity of L'AquilaVia Vetoio 1, CoppitoL'Aquila67100Italy
| | - Laura Garzoli
- Molecular Ecology Group (dark‐MEG)Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR)Largo Tonolli, 50Verbania‐Pallanza28922Italy
| | - Vasilis Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of EnvironmentIonian University, M. Minotou‐Giannopoulou strPanagoulaZakynthos29100Greece
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine BiologyBiotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC)Thalassocosmos, GournesCrete71500Greece
| | - Christian Griebler
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of LimnologyUniversity of ViennaDjerassiplatz 1Vienna1030Austria
| | - Stuart Halse
- Bennelongia Environmental Consultants5 Bishop StreetJolimontWA6014Australia
| | | | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinVia Accademia Albertina, 13TorinoI‐10123Italy
| | - Joseph S. Johnson
- Department of Biological SciencesOhio University57 Oxbow TrailAthensOH45701U.S.A.
| | - Ana Komerički
- Croatian Biospeleological SocietyRooseveltov Trg 6Zagreb10000Croatia
| | - Alejandro Martínez
- Molecular Ecology Group (dark‐MEG)Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR)Largo Tonolli, 50Verbania‐Pallanza28922Italy
| | - Filippo Milano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinVia Accademia Albertina, 13TorinoI‐10123Italy
| | - Oana T. Moldovan
- Emil Racovita Institute of SpeleologyClinicilor 5Cluj‐Napoca400006Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and TechnologySaturn 24‐26Cluj‐Napoca400504Romania
| | - Veronica Nanni
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinVia Accademia Albertina, 13TorinoI‐10123Italy
| | - Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinVia Accademia Albertina, 13TorinoI‐10123Italy
| | - Matthew L. Niemiller
- Department of Biological SciencesThe University of Alabama in Huntsville301 Sparkman Drive NWHuntsvilleAL35899U.S.A.
| | - Susana Pallarés
- Departamento de Biogeografía y Cambio GlobalMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSICCalle de José Gutiérrez Abascal 2Madrid28006Spain
| | - Martina Pavlek
- Croatian Biospeleological SocietyRooseveltov Trg 6Zagreb10000Croatia
- Ruđer Bošković InstituteBijenička cesta 54Zagreb10000Croatia
| | - Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinVia Accademia Albertina, 13TorinoI‐10123Italy
| | - Tanja Pipan
- ZRC SAZUKarst Research InstituteNovi trg 2Ljubljana1000Slovenia
- UNESCO Chair on Karst EducationUniversity of Nova GoricaGlavni trg 8Vipava5271Slovenia
| | | | - Andrea Santangeli
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research ProgrammeUniversity of HelsinkiViikinkaari 1Helsinki00014Finland
| | - Susanne I. Schmidt
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CASNa Sádkách 702/7České Budějovice370 05Czech Republic
- Department of Lake ResearchHelmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchBrückstraße 3aMagdeburg39114Germany
| | - J. Judson Wynne
- Department of Biological SciencesCenter for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Box 5640, Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZ86011U.S.A.
| | - Maja Zagmajster
- SubBio Lab, Department of Biology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaJamnikarjeva 101Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Valerija Zakšek
- SubBio Lab, Department of Biology, Biotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaJamnikarjeva 101Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe)Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of HelsinkiPohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13Helsinki00100Finland
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes / Azorean Biodiversity Group / CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of Azores, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences and Environment (FCAA), Rua Capitão João d'ÀvilaPico da Urze, 9700‐042 Angra do HeroísmoAzoresPortugal
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5
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Pellegrini TG, Ferreira RL, Zampaulo RDA, Vieira L. Three new troglobitic Coarazuphium (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Zuphiini) species from a Brazilian hotspot of cave beetles: exploring how the environmental attributes of caves drive ground-beetle niches. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.43.73185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Three new species of troglobitic beetles of the genus Coarazuphium are described from specimens collected in iron ore caves in the Flona de Carajás in Brazil, doubling the number of known species for the Carajás region. The new species of Coarazuphium are morphologically similar to the already described species from the same region and are distributed in a small geographic range. From all Coarazuphium species of the region, including the new ones, two stand out, C. spinifemur and C. xingusp. nov., which are the smallest Coarazuphium species. Both species have shorter legs and antennae when compared to the others. The main characteristic that differentiates C. xikrinsp. nov. and C. kayaposp. nov. from the other two species from the Carajás region, C. tapiaguassu and C. amazonicum, is that the new species have more numerous setigerous punctures dorsally on the head. With the three new species added to the six already described congeners, the area of intense mining of the Carajás region includes the highest diversity of obligatory cave-dwelling beetles in Brazil, representing a hotspot of cave beetles. Coarazuphium xikrinsp. nov. and C. amazonicum co-occur in some of the caves of the Carajás region, which is possible due to putative niche differentiation between the species. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining legal provisions that ensure the preservation of caves, especially those most relevant regarding physical and biotic aspects, which is crucial for the conservation of Brazilian subterranean biodiversity.
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6
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Trevelin LC, Simões MH, Prous X, Pietrobon T, Brandi IV, Jaffé R. Optimizing speleological monitoring efforts: insights from long-term data for tropical iron caves. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11271. [PMID: 33959423 PMCID: PMC8054738 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors underpinning species abundance patterns in space and time is essential to implement effective cave conservation actions. Yet, the methods employed to monitor cave biodiversity still lack standardization, and no quantitative assessment has yet tried to optimize the amount and type of information required to efficiently identify disturbances in cave ecosystems. Using a comprehensive monitoring dataset for tropical iron caves, comprising abundance measurements for 33 target taxa surveyed across 95 caves along four years, here we provide the first evidence-based recommendations to optimize monitoring programs seeking to follow target species abundance through time. We found that seasonality did not influence the ability to detect temporal abundance trends. However, in most species, abundance estimates assessed during the dry season resulted in a more accurate detection of temporal abundance trends, and at least three surveys were required to identify global temporal abundance trends. Finally, we identified a subset of species that could potentially serve as short-term disturbance indicators. Results suggest that iron cave monitoring programs implemented in our study region could focus sampling efforts in the dry season, where detectability of target species is higher, while assuring data collection for at least three years. More generally, our study reveals the importance of long-term cave monitoring programs for detecting possible disturbances in subterranean ecosystems, and for using the generated information to optimize future monitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xavier Prous
- Environmental Licensing and Speleology, Vale S.A., Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thadeu Pietrobon
- Environmental Licensing and Speleology, Vale S.A., Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Iuri Viana Brandi
- Environmental Licensing and Speleology, Vale S.A., Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Jaffé
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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7
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Cave lithology effect on subterranean biodiversity: A case study in quartzite and granitoid caves. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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8
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Mammola S, Cardoso P, Angyal D, Balázs G, Blick T, Brustel H, Carter J, Ćurčić S, Danflous S, Dányi L, Déjean S, Deltshev C, Elverici M, Fernández J, Gasparo F, Komnenov M, Komposch C, Kováč L, Kunt KB, Mock A, Moldovan OT, Naumova M, Pavlek M, Prieto CE, Ribera C, Rozwałka R, Růžička V, Vargovitsh RS, Zaenker S, Isaia M. Local- versus broad-scale environmental drivers of continental β-diversity patterns in subterranean spider communities across Europe. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191579. [PMID: 31662080 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Macroecologists seek to identify drivers of community turnover (β-diversity) through broad spatial scales. However, the influence of local habitat features in driving broad-scale β-diversity patterns remains largely untested, owing to the objective challenges of associating local-scale variables to continental-framed datasets. We examined the relative contribution of local- versus broad-scale drivers of continental β-diversity patterns, using a uniquely suited dataset of cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (35-70° latitude). Generalized dissimilarity modelling showed that geographical distance, mean annual temperature and size of the karst area in which caves occurred drove most of β-diversity, with differential contributions of each factor according to the level of subterranean specialization. Highly specialized communities were mostly influenced by geographical distance, while less specialized communities were mostly driven by mean annual temperature. Conversely, local-scale habitat features turned out to be meaningless predictors of community change, which emphasizes the idea of caves as the human accessible fraction of the extended network of fissures that more properly represents the elective habitat of the subterranean fauna. To the extent that the effect of local features turned to be inconspicuous, caves emerge as experimental model systems in which to study broad biological patterns without the confounding effect of local habitat features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Mammola
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,LIBRe-Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- LIBRe-Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dorottya Angyal
- UMDI, Faculty of Sciences, UNAM National Autonomous University of Mexico, Sisal, Mexico.,Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Balázs
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Theo Blick
- Independent Researcher, Hummeltal, Germany
| | | | | | - Srećko Ćurčić
- Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Samuel Danflous
- Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
| | - László Dányi
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sylvain Déjean
- Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
| | - Christo Deltshev
- National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mert Elverici
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
| | | | - Fulvio Gasparo
- Commissione Grotte 'E. Boegan', Società Alpina delle Giulie, C.A.I., Trieste, Italy
| | - Marjan Komnenov
- Independent Researcher, Blwd Kuzman Josifovski Pitu, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Christian Komposch
- OEKOTEAM - Institute for Animal Ecology and Landscape Planning, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Kadir Boğaç Kunt
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Turkey.,Zoological Collection of Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute, Taşkent, Kyrenia, Cyprus
| | - Andrej Mock
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Oana Teodora Moldovan
- Emil Racovitza Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria Naumova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Martina Pavlek
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Carlos E Prieto
- Department of Zoology & Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Carles Ribera
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Rozwałka
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Vlastimil Růžička
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert S Vargovitsh
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Stefan Zaenker
- Verband der deutschen Höhlen- und Karstforscher e.V., Fulda, Germany
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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9
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Exploring the Interplay Between Local and Regional Drivers of Distribution of a Subterranean Organism. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11080119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Caves are excellent model systems to study the effects of abiotic factors on species distributions due to their selective conditions. Different ecological factors have been shown to affect species distribution depending on the scale of analysis, whether regional or local. The interplay between local and regional factors in explaining the spatial distribution of cave-dwelling organisms is poorly understood. Using the troglophilic subterranean spider Artema nephilit (Araneae: Pholcidae) as a model organism, we investigated whether similar environmental predictors drive the species distribution at these two spatial scales. At the local scale, we monitored the abundance of the spiders and measured relevant environmental features in 33 caves along the Jordan Rift Valley. We then extended the analysis to a regional scale, investigating the drivers of the distribution using species distribution models. We found that similar ecological factors determined the distribution at both local and regional scales for A. nephilit. At a local scale, the species was found to preferentially occupy the outermost, illuminated, and warmer sectors of caves. Similarly, mean annual temperature, annual temperature range, and solar radiation were the most important drivers of its regional distribution. By investigating these two spatial scales simultaneously, we showed that it was possible to achieve an in-depth understanding of the environmental conditions that governs subterranean species distribution.
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10
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Souza-Filho PWM, Giannini TC, Jaffé R, Giulietti AM, Santos DC, Nascimento WR, Guimarães JTF, Costa MF, Imperatriz- Fonseca VL, Siqueira JO. Mapping and quantification of ferruginous outcrop savannas in the Brazilian Amazon: A challenge for biodiversity conservation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211095. [PMID: 30653607 PMCID: PMC6336337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eastern Brazilian Amazon contains many isolated ferruginous savanna ecosystem patches (locally known as ‘canga vegetation’) located on ironstone rocky outcrops on the top of plateaus and ridges, surrounded by tropical rainforests. In the Carajás Mineral Province (CMP), these outcrops contain large iron ore reserves that have been exploited by opencast mining since the 1980s. The canga vegetation is particularly impacted by mining, since the iron ores that occur are associated with this type of vegetation and currently, little is known regarding the extent of canga vegetation patches before mining activities began. This information is important for quantifying the impact of mining, in addition to helping plan conservation programmes. Here, land cover changes of the Canga area in the CMP are evaluated by estimating the pre-mining area of canga patches and comparing it to the actual extent of canga patches. We mapped canga vegetation using geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) from 1973 Landsat-1 MSS, 1984 and 2001 Landsat-5 TM, and 2016 Landsat-8 OLI images, and found that canga vegetation originally occupied an area of 144.2 km2 before mining exploitation. By 2016, 19.6% of the canga area was lost in the CMP due to conversion to other land-use types (mining areas, pasturelands). In the Carajás National Forest (CNF), located within the CMP, the original canga vegetation covered 105.2 km2 (2.55% of the CNF total area), and in 2016, canga vegetation occupied an area of 77.2 km2 (1.87%). Therefore, after more than three decades of mineral exploitation, less than 20% of the total canga area was lost. Currently, 21% of the canga area in the CMP is protected by the Campos Ferruginosos National Park. By documenting the initial extent of canga vegetation in the eastern Amazon and the extent to which it has been lost due to mining operations, the results of this work are the first step towards conserving this ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Walfir M. Souza-Filho
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Geosciences Institute, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Diogo C. Santos
- Geosciences Institute, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marlene F. Costa
- Gerência de Meio Ambiente–Minas de Carajás, Departamento de Ferrosos Norte, Vale S.A. Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil
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