TY - JOUR

T1 - Temporal and spatial dynamics of arthropod groups in terrestrial subsurface habitats in central Portugal

AU - Eusébio, R. P.

AU - Enghoff, H.

AU - Solodovnikov, A.

AU - Michelsen, A.

AU - Barranco, P.

AU - Salgado, J. M.

AU - Sendra, A.

AU - Reboleira, Ana Sofia

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) can act as a climatic refuge for invertebrates, as a biogeographiccorridor to deeper substrates or as a permanent habitat for some species. This study characterizes the seasonalinvertebrate diversity and abundance of MSS ecosystems in central Portugal focusing on Diplopoda, Diplura,Orthoptera and Coleoptera during one year. Sampling was performed with standard MSS pitfalls in scree slopes(colluvial MSS) of karst areas and environmental parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, water content,organic carbon, nitrate, phosphate and ammonium) were quantified. Our results show that winter was the seasonwith the highest arthropod abundance and that the MSS acts as a permanent habitat for chordeumatidan millipedesand as a climatic refuge for orthopterans and most beetles. All Diplura collected belong to a single speciesknown previously from surface habitats in the Iberian Peninsula, which does not seem to use the Portuguese MSSas a refuge. MSS habitats in central Portugal, classified as western Mediterranean and thermophile depositsprotected by the Natura 2000 network based on plant communities and geology, revealed an abundant anddiverse invertebrate community that urges characterization and protection.

AB - The mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) can act as a climatic refuge for invertebrates, as a biogeographiccorridor to deeper substrates or as a permanent habitat for some species. This study characterizes the seasonalinvertebrate diversity and abundance of MSS ecosystems in central Portugal focusing on Diplopoda, Diplura,Orthoptera and Coleoptera during one year. Sampling was performed with standard MSS pitfalls in scree slopes(colluvial MSS) of karst areas and environmental parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, water content,organic carbon, nitrate, phosphate and ammonium) were quantified. Our results show that winter was the seasonwith the highest arthropod abundance and that the MSS acts as a permanent habitat for chordeumatidan millipedesand as a climatic refuge for orthopterans and most beetles. All Diplura collected belong to a single speciesknown previously from surface habitats in the Iberian Peninsula, which does not seem to use the Portuguese MSSas a refuge. MSS habitats in central Portugal, classified as western Mediterranean and thermophile depositsprotected by the Natura 2000 network based on plant communities and geology, revealed an abundant anddiverse invertebrate community that urges characterization and protection.

U2 - 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125931

DO - 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125931

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34144338

VL - 147

JO - Zoology

JF - Zoology

SN - 0944-2006

M1 - 125931

ER -