Environmental and Biological Heterogeneity in Caves

Influence of Microclimate Variation, Luminosity and Trophic Resources on the Diversity and Composition of Invertebrates

Authors

  • Elmir Lúcio Borges Filho Spelayon Consultoria. Brasil
  • Ívia Lemos Barroso Spelayon Consultoria. Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v13i3.2284

Keywords:

Neotropical, subterranean biology, community, Arthropoda

Abstract

The climatic and trophic conditions of the subterranean environment can affect invertebrate cave community. For this reason, this work has the main goal to understand how environmental factors promote changes in cave fauna, such as distribution of species in caves. This knowledge is essential for cave ecosystem maintenance. The present work tested the influence of temperature, humidity, trophic resource richness and environmental zoning on species richness, diversity and composition of two limestone caves located in the municipality of Matozinhos, MG, Brazil. Invertebrates were sampled using the active search method and two passive capture methods (pitfall traps and Berlese-Tulgreen funnel). We also divided caves into sectors, where trophic resources characterization and the application of invertebrate sampling methods were carried out. Environmental variables were correlated to invertebrate community variables. We found that total species richness was significantly influenced by the environmental variables. The species composition was explained only by temperature.

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Published

2023-11-14

Issue

Section

Fluxo contínuo