Navegando por Assunto "Landscape"

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Artigo
Change in the composition of cave-dwelling bats after a 53-year interval at the Gruta do Limoeiro (Espírito Santo, Brazil)
(2022-11-23) Ditchfield, Albert David; Hoppe, João Paulo Maires; Andrade, Gabriella Marchezi; Tahara, Arthur Setsuo; Martins, Felipe de Melo; Scabello, Mirela; Oprea, Monik; Coutinho, Rafael Zerbini; Pimenta, Vinícius Teixeira; Vieira, Thiago Bernardi
An especially interesting question is “How many species of bats can be found simultaneously in the same cave?” This information is surprisingly rare in the literature, mainly in the Neotropics. The aim of this study was to sample bats in Gruta do Limoeiro cave, Municipality of Castelo, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil after a 53-year interval of the first survey, by the naturalist Augusto Ruschi. Four surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2006, capturing bats with mist-nets and actively exploring the cave. We recorded eleven species of three families, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae, making Gruta do Limoeiro cave one of the most diverse caves in the World for bats. Of the 14 species found by Ruschi, seven were still present, and four species were added. The seven species lost from Ruschi’s list are mainly Emballonuridae and some Phyllostomidae, probably due to landscape changes. We recommend the long-term monitoring of the Gruta do Limoeiro cave to understand the loss in diversity, and consequently in ecosystem services.
Texto publicado em jornal
Ecological preferences of neotropical cave bats in roost site selection and their implications for conservation
(2020-06) de Sousa Barros, Jennifer; Bernard, Enrico; Lopes Ferreira, Rodrigo
Bats frequently use caves as roosts due to higher environmental stability and protection. However, species-specific ecological and physiological requirements and conditions of roosts and their surroundings can influence species presence. Little is known on cave choice by bats in the Neotropics, a species- and cave-rich region. Understanding how bats, cave characteristics and the surrounding landscape are related with each other helps the management and conservation of bats and caves. Based on sampling 19 caves using both diurnal observations and captures, we tested (1) whether bat richness was positively related to cave temperature, humidity, size, stability, and heterogeneity of microhabitats, and the preservation and heterogeneity of the surrounding landscape in central Brazil; (2) whether cave and landscape characteristics influenced on species composition; (3) how species responded to cave and landscape variables; and (4) whether these relationships changed between seasons. Temperature was a limiting factor, whereas environmental stability, humidity, and structural attributes of caves favored the occurrence of more species. Larger caves, rich in microhabitats – but more stable than the external environment – supported more species, especially in the dry season. Landscape context did not influence species richness and composition in the caves, but the percentage of vegetation around caves was important for certain species. Our results highlight the influence of environmental variables in the process of cave selection by Neotropical bat species. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of cave protection for bats and provide useful information for decision-making in processes of environmental licensing.
Artigo
IDENTIFICAÇÃO E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE FEIÇÕES EXOCÁRSTICAS NOENTORNO DO RIO AZUIS, AURORA DO TOCANTINS –TO
(2023-08) Alves, Luiz Ricardo Ferreira; Morais, Fernando de
O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar e analisar as feições de relevo que integram a área cárstica no entorno do rio Azuis, situada no município de Aurora do Tocantins, região sudeste do estado do Tocantins. A fim de atender tal proposição, foi elaborada uma carta geomorfológica em escala de detalhe (1:25.000) com base na adaptação de procedimentos metodológicos das escolas francesa e holandesa de cartografia geomorfológica. De modo geral, foram verificadas feições exocársticas, como maciços calcários, surgências, sumidouros, dolinas, uvalas e poljés. Processos geomorfológicos responsáveis pela configuração do relevo foram identificados, confirmando o grande potencial para estudos dos sistemas cársticos, bem como dos atrativos naturais.
Artigo
Persisting while changing over time: modelling the historical biogeographic of cave crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea) in Neotropics
(2023) Castro-Souza, Rodrigo Antônio; Sobral-Souza, Thadeu; Rabelo, Lucas Mendes; Zefa, Edison; Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes
Using species distribution modelling (SDMs) techniques, we predicted the biogeographic history of crickets commonly found in Neotropical caves as a way to detect potential long-term environmental refuges in South America. Our models were built based on a thorough investigation of existing database regarding the genus Endecous Saussure, 1878 (Ensifera: Phalangopsidae) occurrences. The predictions of their distribution were obtained for two paleoclimate scenarios (LGM — 21 ka and Mid-Holocene — 6 ka), the current climate scenario (0 ka) and one future global warming climate scenario (RCP8.5, 2080–2100). Our findings suggest that in the past, the potential distribution of the crickets was wider, with potential forest corridors connecting different karst areas with caves within their occupancy area. The future prediction indicates a drastic reduction in their spatial distribution with an increased potential for isolation in subterranean ecosystems. Atlantic humid forest patches and caves represent the main environmental refuges for these crickets. Considering the ongoing impacts on surface environments and future climate change, the conservation of caves and karst landscapes has become one of the main strategies for the maintenance of these crickets and all the correlated subterranean communities.
Artigo
Silica and iron mobilization, cave development and landscape evolution in iron formations in Brazil
(2022-02-01) Auler, Augusto S.; Barton, Hazel A.; Zambelli, Barbara; Senko, John; Parker, Ceth W.; Sasowsky, Ira D.; Souza, Tatiana A.R.; Pujoni, Diego; Peñaranda, Jorge; Davis, Reed
Abstract Iron formations display some of the oldest and most enigmatic landforms on Earth, presently restricted to few areas of the planet. The original rock, the Banded Iron Formation (BIF) was formed in the Proterozoic and has been continuously weathered through a complex interplay of chemical and biological processes involving the massive mobilization of the main elements silica and iron, resulting in silica depleted (but friable) high-grade iron bodies and a Fe-rich surficial duricrust known as canga. This study presents new data and includes a comprehensive review of the existing literature, incorporating extensive data from unpublished reports and new findings. It aims to quantitatively analyze the morphology and development of porosity in iron formations both at micro and macro scales, assessing the geobiological mechanisms responsible for iron and silica mobilization and their role in the dynamics of this ever-evolving landscape. Silica leaching is the initial process of porosity generation at depth in the phreatic zone and results in a productive aquifer that contributes to the removal of solute and the generation of initial low-density zones. The development of numerous pores and voids is favored by the permeability contrast at the shallow contact zone between the canga and the weathered ore. Caves tend to occur at the base of scarps at the limit of plateaus and ridges, and tend to scale down in size away from the borders. The landscape evolves through the retreat of scarps, mostly through the collapse of cave passages. Caves exhibit a characteristic morphology that intercalates larger rooms and smaller connecting passages, suggesting that macropores started initially as isolated voids and occur either entirely in canga or in the weathered BIF, but commonly are associated with the contact between these rocks. Caves in the Amazonian Carajás region display the largest dimensional values, regardless of bedrock context. Longer caves show a larger number of connections between rooms, suggesting that the coalescence of rooms mostly through slope interflow processes is a key player in fostering the development of caves. Fractal Dimension (FD) calculated for the larger caves demonstrates that there is no relationship between lithology and FD, although values of FD vary between regions, with Carajás displaying the highest ones. Geomicrobiological processes play a major role in the mobilization of iron through Fe(III) reducing bacteria. In particular, it promotes the long-term stabilization of voids through the generation of a hardened surface that protects the walls of caves and voids from collapse. The interplay of chemical and bacterial processes allows for the generation of a highly integrated network of pores and caves that represent outlets for the removal of silica and mobilization/concentration of iron. These voids are the result of geochemical leaching and evolve synchronously with the landscape, mostly at scarp level. Such processes connect isolated pores, promote evacuation of solutes and allow for the slow lateral degradation of the landscape. This geologically slow process is now heavily affected by mining operations, which reinforces the need for searching for mitigation and/or regeneration pathways in order to preserve this unique geo-biological ancient landscape.