Eur. J. Entomol. 115: 445-449, 2018 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2018.045

Random or clumped: How litter dwelling scorpions are distributed in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic forestNote

Gabriela Cavalcanti Silva de Gusmão SANTOS1, Welton DIONISIO-DA-SILVA2, João Pedro SOUZA-ALVES2, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de ALBUQUERQUE1, André Felipe de Araujo LIRA1,*
1 Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Prof. Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50570-420, Recife, Brazil; e-mails: gaabigusmao@outlook.com, cleide.ufpe@gmail.com
2 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Prof. Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50570-420, Recife, Brazil; e-mails: weltonxdc@gmail.com, souzaalves1982@gmail.com, andref.lira@gmail.com

Knowledge of the patterns in the spatial distribution of species provides valuable information about the factors (resources and environment) that regulate the use of space by animals. Typically, the distribution of litter-dwelling scorpions in Atlantic forests is correlated with the structure of their microhabitats, although to better understand their natural history more studies on the patterns in their use of space are required. Therefore, we investigated the effect of rainfall on the patterns in the spatial distributions and population densities of two sympatric species of scorpion, Tityus (Archaeotityus) pusillus Pocock 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço 1982 in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The study was carried out during the dry (September) and rainy (June) months. We collected 501 individuals (268 T. (A.) pusillus and 233 A. mauryi) by actively searching at night using UV lanterns. We found that the spatial distribution and population density of T. (A.) pusillus, but not A. mauryi, were significantly affected by rainfall, with T. (A.) pusillus individuals showing a clumped pattern during the rainy month and random distribution in the dry month. We also found a different response in the population densities of the two species, with T. (A.) pusillus but not A. mauryi being affected by rainfall. Our results indicate that, although co-habiting in leaf litter, these species respond differently to rainfall, which affects their spatial distribution and abundance in this habitat.

Keywords: Scorpiones, Ananteris mauryi, Tityus (Archaeotityus) pusillus, Payandeh aggregation index, population ecology, spatial distribution, rainforest, Brazil

Received: January 30, 2018; Revised: August 14, 2018; Accepted: August 14, 2018; Published online: August 28, 2018  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
SANTOS, G.C.S.D.G., DIONISIO-DA-SILVA, W., SOUZA-ALVES, J.P., ALBUQUERQUE, C.M.R.D., & LIRA, A.F.D.A. (2018). Random or clumped: How litter dwelling scorpions are distributed in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic forest. EJE, 115, Article 445-449. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2018.045
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. APAC 2016: Agência Pernambucana de Águas e Clima. URL: http://www.apac.pe.gov.br/meteorologia/ (last accessed 16 May 2016).
    2. Arbab A. 2014: Spatial distribution and minimum sample size for overwintering larvae of the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker) in Paddy Fields. - Neotrop. Entomol. 43: 415-420. Go to original source...
    3. Canty A. & Ripley B. 2017: Boot: Bootstrap R (S-Plus) Functions. R Packages Version 1.3-20. URL: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/boot/.
    4. Dias S.C., Candido D.M. & Brescovit A.D. 2016: Scorpions from Mata do Buraquinho, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, with ecological notes on a population of Ananteris mauryi Lourenço (Scorpiones, Buthidae). - Rev. Bras. Zool. 176: 707-710. Go to original source...
    5. Dionisio-da-Silva W., Lira A.F.A. & Albuquerque C.M.R. 2018: Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest. - Zoology 129(4): 17-24. Go to original source...
    6. Dufour C.M.S., Meynard C., Watson J., Rioux C., Benhamou S., Perez J., Avenant J.J.N., Pillay N. & Ganem G. 2015: Space use variation in co-occurring sister species: response to environmental variation or competition? - PLoS one 10(2): e0117750, 15 pp. Go to original source...
    7. Eterovick P.C. & Barata I.M. 2006: Distribution of tadpoles within and among Brazilian streams: the influence of predators, habitat size and heterogeneity. - Herpetologica 62: 365-377. Go to original source...
    8. Grear J.S. & Schmitz O.J. 2005: Effects of grouping behavior and predators on the spatial distribution of a forest floor arthropod. - Ecology 86: 960-971. Go to original source...
    9. Hagvar S. 1983: Collembola in Norwegian coniferous forest soils II. Vertical distribution. - Pedobiologia 25: 383-401. Go to original source...
    10. Honetschlager L.D. 1965: A new method for hunting scorpions. - Turtox News 43: 69-70. Go to original source...
    11. Leal C.R.O., Silva J.O., Sousa-Souto L. & de Siqueira Neves F. 2016: Vegetation structure determines insect herbivore diversity in seasonally dry tropical forests. - J. Insect Conserv. 20: 979-988. Go to original source...
    12. Lenom J. 2006: Plotrix: a package in the red light district of R. - R-News 6(4): 8-12.
    13. Lira A.F.A. & DeSouza A.M. 2014: Microhabitat use by scorpion species (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in the montane Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil. - Iber. J. Arachnol. 24: 107-108.
    14. Lira A.F.A. & DeSouza A.M. 2016: Microhabitat use of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) assemblage in the highland Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. - Can. J. Zool. 94: 323-327. Go to original source...
    15. Lira A.F.A., Souza A.M., Silva Filho A.A. & Albuquerque C.M.R. 2013: Spatio-temporal microhabitat use by two co-occurring species of scorpions in Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. - Zoology 116: 182-185. Go to original source...
    16. Lira A.F.A., Rego F.N.A.A. & Albuquerque, C.M.R. 2015: How important are environmental factors for the population structure of co-occurring scorpions species in tropical forest? - Can. J. Zool. 93: 15-19. Go to original source...
    17. Lira A.F.A., Araújo V.L.N., DeSouza A.M., Rego F.N.A.A. & Albuquerque C.M.R. 2016: The effect of habitat fragmentation on the scorpion assemblage of a Brazilian Atlantic Forest. - J. Insect Conserv. 20: 457-466. Go to original source...
    18. Lira A.F.A., DeSouza A.M. & Albuquerque C.M.R. 2018a: Environmental variation and seasonal changes as determinants ofthe spatial distribution of scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Neotropical forests. - Can. J. Zool. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0251. Go to original source...
    19. Lira A.F.A., Damasceno E.M., Silva-Filho A.A.C. & Albuquerque C.M.R. 2018b: Linking scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) assemblage with fragment restoration in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. - Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 53: 107-112. Go to original source...
    20. Lourenço W.R. 1982: Révision du genre Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) et description de six espèces nouvelles. - Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 4e sér 4(A1/2): 119-151. Go to original source...
    21. Lourenço W.R. 2002: Scorpions of Brazil. Editions de l'If, Paris, 308 pp.
    22. Lourenço W.R. 2010: The disrupted pattern of distribuition of the genus Hadrurochactas Pocock; evidence of past connctions between Amazonan the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. - C. R. Biol. 333: 41-47. Go to original source...
    23. Lourenço W.R. 2015: Comments on the Ananterinae Pocock, 1990 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and description of a new remarkable species of Ananteris from Peru. - C. R. Biol. 338: 134-139. Go to original source...
    24. Lucena M.F.A. 2009: Flora da Mata do CIMNC, Pernambuco, Brasil. Apoio a Criação de Unidades de Conservação na Floresta Atlântica de Pernambuco, Recife, 18 pp.
    25. McReynolds C.N. 2008: Microhabitat preferences for the errant scorpion, Centruroides vittatus (Scorpiones, Buthidae). - J. Arachnol. 36: 557-564. Go to original source...
    26. Myers N., Mittermeier R.A., Mittermeier C.G., Fonseca G.A.B. & Kent J. 2000: Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. - Nature 403: 853-858. Go to original source...
    27. Ott R. & Ott A.P. 2014: Abundance and seasonality of Bothriurus signatus (Arachnida, Scorpiones) in different vegetal formations in São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brazil. - Iheringia 104: 92-98. Go to original source...
    28. Patil G. & Stiteler W. 1974: Concepts of aggregation and their quantification: A critical review with some new results and applications. - Res. Pop. Ecol. 15: 238-254. Go to original source...
    29. Payandeh B. 1970: Comparison of method for assessing spacial distribution of trees. - Forest Sci. 16: 312-317.
    30. Polis G.A. 1990: The Biology of Scorpions. Standford University Press, Standford, 587 pp.
    31. Polis G.A. & McCormick S.J. 1987: Intraguild predation and competition among species of desert scorpions. - Ecology 68: 332-343. Go to original source...
    32. Polis G.A. & Yamashita T. 1991: The ecology and importance of predaceous arthropods in desert communities. In Polis G.A. (ed.): The Ecology of Desert Communities. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 180-222. Go to original source...
    33. Quijano-Ravell A.F., Ponce-Saavedra J. & Francke O.F. 2011: Ciclo de vida de Hadrurus gertschi Soleglad (Scorpiones: Iuridae) en una localidad del Estado de Guerrero, Mexico. - Iber. J. Zool. 19: 133-145.
    34. Quijano-Ravell A.F., Ponce-Saavedra J. & Francke O.F. 2012: Densidad, distribución espacial y biomasa de Hadrurus gertschi Soleglad (Scorpiones: Iuridae) en una localidad de Guerrero, Mexico. - Iber. J. Arachnol. 20: 35-43.
    35. R Core Team 2018: R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. URL: https://www.R-project.org/.
    36. Ribeiro M.C., Metzger J.P., Martensen A.C., Ponzoni F. & Hirota M.M. 2009: Brazilian Atlantic Forest: how much is left and how the remaining Forest distributed? Implications for conservation. - Biol. Conserv. 142: 1141-1153. Go to original source...
    37. Rodrigues T.R., Fernandes M.G. & Santos H.R. 2010: Distribuição espacial de Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) e Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) em algodoeiro Bt e não-Bt. - Rev. Bras. Entomol. 54: 136-143. Go to original source...
    38. Salomão R.P., Lira A.F.A. & Costa F.C. 2016: Records of perching by dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. - Coleopt. Bull. 70: 903-906. Go to original source...
    39. Sampaio E.V.S.B., Dall'Olio A., Nunes K.S. & Lemos E.E.P. 1993: A model of litterfall, litter layer losses and mass transfer in a humid tropical forest at Pernambuco, Brazil. - J. Trop. Ecol. 9: 291-301. Go to original source...
    40. Schessl M., Da Silva W.L. & Gottsberger G. 2008: Effects of fragmentation on forest structure and litter dynamics in Atlantic rainforest in Pernambuco, Brazil. - Flora 203: 215-228. Go to original source...
    41. Schmidt J.M. & Rypstra A.L. 2010: Opportunistic predator prefers habitat complexity that exposes prey while reducing cannibalism and intraguild encounters. - Oecologia 164: 899-910. Go to original source...
    42. Sujithra M. & Chander S. 2016: Distribution pattern and sequential sampling plan for spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan L. - Int. J. Pest Manag. 62: 64-68. Go to original source...
    43. Thomas C.F.G., Parkinson L., Griffiths G.J.K., Garcia A.F. & Marshall E.J.P. 2001: Aggregation and temporal stability of carabid beetle distributions in field and hedgerow habitats. - J. Appl. Ecol. 38: 100-116. Go to original source...
    44. Verhoef H.A. & Selm A.V. 1983: Distribution and population dynamics of Collembola in relation to soil moisture. - Ecography 6: 387-388. Go to original source...
    45. Yamaguti H.Y. & Pinto-da-Rocha R. 2006: The ecology of Thestylus aurantiurus of the parque estadual da Serra da Cantareira, São Paulo, Brazil (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae). - J. Arachnol. 34: 214-220. Go to original source...
    46. Yamashita T. 2004: Surface activity, biomass, and phenology of striped scorpion, Centruroides vittatus (Buthidae) in Arkansas. - Euscorpius 17: 25-33.
    47. Zinner H. & Amitai P. 1969: Observations on hibernation of Compsobuthus acutecarinatus E. sin. and C. schmiedeknichti Vachon (Scorpionidea, Arachnida) in Israel. - Isr. J. Zool. 18: 41-47.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content