Cave Habitat Colonization

AbstractInvertebrates living in underground environments often have unusual and sometimes unique adaptations and occupy narrow ranges, but there is a lack of knowledge about most micro-endemic cave-dwelling invertebrate species. An illustrative case is that of the flatworm Dendrocoelum italicum, the first survey of which was performed 79 years after its description. The survey revealed that the underground stream supplying water to the pool from which the species was first described had been diverted into a pipe for human use, thus severely reducing the available habitat for the species. Here we describe the results of what we believe is the first habitat restoration action performed in a cave habitat for the conservation of a flatworm. The water-diverting structure was removed, with the involvement of local protected area administrators, citizens and volunteers from local organizations. The intervention resulted in the restoration of a large, stable pool inside the cave, thus creating an optimal habitat for this threatened planarian, with increased availability of prey and a stable population. This report of habitat restoration for a neglected invertebrate offers insights for the protection of other micro-endemic species.

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Seed dispersal of Solanum thomasiifolium Sendtner (Solanaceae) in the Linhares Forest, Espírito Santo state, Brazil

Acta Botanica Brasilica ◽

10.1590/s0102-33062009000400027 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 1171-1179 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

João Vasconcellos-Neto ◽

Lidiamar Barbosa de Albuquerque ◽

Wesley Rodrigues Silva

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Control Bird ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Espírito Santo ◽

Bird Droppings ◽

Fruit Productivity ◽

Habitat Colonization ◽

Viable Seeds ◽

Espirito Santo ◽

And Control

The aim of this study was to analyse seed dispersal and establishment of Solanum thomasiifolium in an area of "nativo" vegetation in Espirito Santo state on the southeastern Brazilian coast. Ten species of birds, the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and one species of lizard (Tropidurus torquatus) fed on S. thomasiifolium fruits and dispersed viable seeds in their faeces. The proportional contribution of each of these groups to seed dispersal was 77% (birds), 19% (crab-eating fox) and 4% (lizards). Ants also contributed to seed dispersal. More seeds were deposited in vegetation islands than in the surrounding open areas. Germination rates of seeds collected directly from fruit (control), bird droppings, the faeces of crab-eating foxes and lizards were, respectively, 64, 64, 53, and 80 %. Differences among these rates were all significant, except between birds and control. Lizards were important as seed carriers between nearby islands and they expelled a higher proportion of viable seeds. Birds and the crab-eating foxes did not enhance seed germination, but promoted seed dispersal over a wider area. Plant architecture, fruit productivity, fruit characteristics and the diversity of frugivores are important for the success of S. thomasiifolium in habitat colonization.

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Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853812x638536 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 251-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Gentile Francesco Ficetola ◽

Roberta Pennati ◽

Raoul Manenti

Keyword(s):

Detection Probability ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Heterogeneous Environments ◽

Abiotic Environment ◽

Environmental Features ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

Nw Italy ◽

Cave Habitat

Underground environments are increasingly recognised as important habitats for the distribution of certain amphibians. However, very few analyses tested whether amphibians occur randomly in underground environments, or they select cavities with specific environmental features. We assessed the distribution of the cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) strinatii in an area of NW Italy during summer, and analysed relationships between salamander distribution and multiple cave features, considering parameters describing both the biotic and the abiotic environment. Using visual encounter surveys, species’ detection probability was high, indicating that this technique provides reliable information on distribution. Salamanders were associated to caves with cold and humid microclimate, presence of wet walls, and hosting large numbers of Meta spiders. The association with less luminous caves was close to significance. Distribution data were not affected by spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that cave features are more important than the proximity to other occupied caves in determining the pattern of occupancy. Caves are heterogeneous environments: cave salamanders are strongly related to the features of underground environments. Food availability and abiotic features are major determinants of suitability for cave salamanders. Inter-correlation among biotic and abiotic cave features makes it complex identifying the role of factors determining species distribution, but quantitative analyses and PCA help to unravel the cave habitat requirements for amphibians.

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Naturally-primed life strategy plasticity of dimorphic Aethionema arabicum facilitates optimal habitat colonization

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-52520-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Samik Bhattacharya ◽

Katja Sperber ◽

Barış Özüdoğru ◽

Gerhard Leubner-Metzger ◽

Klaus Mummenhoff

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Plasticity ◽

Life Strategy ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Plant Dispersal ◽

Stress Gradients ◽

Life Phase ◽

Fitness Parameters ◽

Dispersal Traits ◽

Habitat Colonization ◽

Optimal Habitat

Abstract Plasticity in plant dispersal traits can maximise the ability of a plant species to survive in stressful environments during colonization. Aethionema arabicum (Brassicaceae) is a dimorphic annual species that is hypothesized to survive stressful conditions during colonization due to adaptive plasticity in life-phase (vegetative vs sexual) and fruit morph (dehiscent [DEH] vs indehiscent fruits [IND]). We tested for adaptive plasticity in life-phase and fruit morphs along laboratory environmental stress gradients found in the natural habitats of Ae. arabicum. We considered optimal environmental conditions (750–2000 m above sea level) to be those that resulted in the following fitness parameters: higher biomass and a higher total number of fruits compared to stressful habitats. We found evidence of plasticity in life-phase and fruit-morph along a stressful environmental gradient. High hydrothermal stress proportionally increased the number of dehiscent morphs and non-dormant seeds germinating in autumn. This offsets natural phenology towards dry and cold winter (less hydrothermal stress), yielding fewer fruits that dehisce in the next generation. We conclude that the plastic responses of Ae. arabicum to natural stress gradients constitute a strategy of long-term adaptive benefits and favouring potential pathways of colonisation of the optimal habitat.

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Organism responses to habitat fragmentation and diversity: Habitat colonization by estuarine macrofauna

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology ◽

10.1016/s0022-0981(98)00192-0 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 236 (1) ◽

pp. 107-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 92

Author(s):

David B Eggleston ◽

Ward E Elis ◽

Lisa L Etherington ◽

Craig P Dahlgren ◽

Martin H Posey

Keyword(s):

Habitat Fragmentation ◽

Habitat Colonization

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BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF SPELEONECTES EPILIMNIUS (REMIPEDIA, SPELEONECTIDAE) FROM SURFACE WATER OF AN ANCHIALINE CAVE ON SAN SALVADOR ISLAND, BAHAMAS

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/156854099503889 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 979-991 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jerry Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Mouth Area ◽

The Body ◽

San Salvador ◽

San Salvador Island ◽

Cave Habitat ◽

Trunk Segments

Abstract Speleonectes epilimnius (described earlier in this issue), was observed at the surface of cave pools and in the laboratory. This unique cave habitat for remipedes is described. Videotapes of six live specimens shot under a microscope provided the only detailed observations to date for feeding, grooming, and resting behaviors for remipedes. During feeding, maxillae 1 and 2 held food tightly while repeatedly piercing, scratching, and rotating it; they periodically moved food to the mandibles, which rapidly chewed off tissue in typical crustacean fashion. Peristalsis moved food throughout the midgut and to diverticula of trunk segments, but not to the anal segment. Several structures were used in grooming. Antenna 1 was groomed by power strokes of anterior swimming appendages. Antenna 2 and frontal filaments groomed each other. Maxillae 1-2 and maxillipeds groomed the mouth area, posterior third of the body, and each other. Speleonectes epilimnius (decrit precedemment dans ce fascicule), a ete observe dans une grotte a la surface des bassins d'eau souterraines et au laboratoire. Cet habitat de grotte, unique pour les remipedes est decrit. Les enregistrements videos, realises au microscope sur six specimens vivants ont fourni les seules observations detailees a ce jour sur les comportements d'alimentation, de toilettage et de repos chez les remipedes. Au cours de la prise de nourriture, les maxilles 1 et 2 maintiennent la nourriture fermement pendant qu'elle est percee, grattee, retournee; elles portent periodiquement la nourriture aux mandibules qui rapidement mastiquent les tissus d'une facon typique chez les crustaces. Des mouvements peristaltiques font avancer la nourriture a travers l'intestin moyen et vers les diverticules des segments du tronc, mais pas jusqu'au segment anal. Plusieurs structures sont utilisees pour le toilettage. L'antennule est nettoyee grace a de puissants coups des appendices natatoires anterieurs. L'antenne et les filaments frontaux se nettoient les uns les autres. Les premieres et deuxiemes maxilles et les maxillipedes nettoient la region buccale, le tiers posterieur du corps et egalement se nettoient reciproquement.

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