Pattern of scorpion diversity across a bioclimatic dry-wet gradient in Neotropical forests

• Published in: Acta oecologica (Montrouge) 2019-04, Vol.96, p.10-17
• Main Authors: Lira, André F.A., Salomão, Renato P., Albuquerque, Cleide M.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arachnida; Beta diversity; Macroecology; Metacommunity; Species composition
• ISSN: 1146-609X; 1873-6238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2019.02.004

Understanding large-scale patterns of biological diversity is one of the most important issues in ecology. Parameters of scorpion assemblages may serve as a proxy to understand how arthropods respond to bioclimatic changes by adjusting their spatially structured distribution. We analysed how scorpion species richness, abundance, and composition respond to climatic variations found along a longitudinal gradient between wet (Atlantic Forest) and dry (Caatinga hypo and hyperxerophilic) forests in Brazil. A total of 20 sites were sampled four times along a 712 km longitudinal wet-dry bioclimatic gradient in north-eastern Brazil. We recorded 2653 scorpions from 12 species, belonging to five genera and two families. Environmental variables associated with precipitation and temperature had a strong effect on scorpion distribution, resulting in a distinct faunal composition at both extremes of the gradient. Species composition presented a turnover along the bioclimatic gradient, with beta diversity increasing towards the drier sites. The increase of dryness coincide with increases in temperature, moisture reduction, and a general environmental harshness. Our study, therefore, indicates that species sensitivity to climatic variation determines scorpion distribution in Neotropical forests. •Precipitation and temperature had a strong effect on scorpion distribution.•Scorpion beta diversity increasing towards the drier sites.•Species sensitivity to climatic variation determines scorpion distribution.