Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil

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  Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil ABSTRACT Aim Beta diversity analyses clarify mechanisms structuring ecological communities, but their multidimensional facets remain poorly explored in arthropods. Here, we quantified taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity in scorpions, partitioned these facets into species replacement and richness differences, and evaluated the relative importance of spatial structure and environmental conditions in driving community assembly. Location Northeastern Brazil, South America. Taxon Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Methods Taxonomic beta diversity was estimated using species presence across 70 sites in northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic turnover was calculated from a multi-locus molecular tree, and functional beta diversity was derived from morphometric and ecological traits. All beta diversity facets were decomposed into replacement and richness-difference component...

Non-Acarine Arachnids in the Ndumo Game Reserve: Celebrating 100 Years of Research

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Non-Acarine Arachnids in the Ndumo Game Reserve: Celebrating 100 Years of Research

Abstract

The state of scientific research on the non-acarine arachnids of the Ndumo Game Reserve is presented and its status as a biodiversity hotspot is supported by the exceptionally rich diversity of spiders (573 spp.), pseudoscorpions (11 spp.), scorpions (8 spp.), harvestmen (6 spp.), solifuges (2 spp.) and whip spiders (1 sp.), totalling 601 spp. Aside from baseline biodiversity research, biological research on spiders has focused on microhabitat preferences, reproductive biology and competition in web-building spiders; dietary breath, spatiotemporal distribution and predatory behaviour of myrmecophagous, araneophagous and termitophagous spiders; mimicry in myrmecomorphic spiders; and the provision of information on the microhabitat preferences of a broad range of species. Ecological studies have investigated bark-, ground- and canopy-dwelling assemblages, while karyological and taxonomic studies have covered a broad range of spider, harvestmen and pseudoscorpion taxa. Future research should build on this foundation by continuing biological research on the broad range of species available, generating more information on assemblage differences between biotopes and over longer temporal scales, and utilizing spiders and potentially other arachnids as bioindicators of ecological change.

Charles R. Haddad "Non-Acarine Arachnids in the Ndumo Game Reserve: Celebrating 100 Years of Research," African Journal of Wildlife Research, 55(sp1), (5 February 2025) https://doi.org/10.3957/056.055.0081