RESUMO
Brazil's large territory displays significant richness in caves with about 12 thousand caves already recorded. Nevertheless, studies on bats in these environments are extremely scarce and fragmented. This study characterized the chiropteran fauna from two sandstone caves under the influence of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam (Belo Monte UHE) in Pará, Brazil. The Kararaô and Kararaô Novo caves are located on the same ridge, 250 m apart. Three expeditions were carried out in 2013 and 2014, with a 4- to 5-month interval in between. A total of 589 animals were caught, 246 in the Kararaô cave and 343 in the Kararaô Novo cave. Fifteen species were recorded (13 in each cave) representing 79% similarity. With the exception of Vampyrum spectrum, which is not a cave species, the remaining recorded species were mostly cave bat species. Some species seemed to use the caves seasonally, although the basis of this pattern is still unknown. The most commonly observed species were Pteronotus personatus (dominant in the Kararaô cave), P. parnellii (dominant in the Kararaô Novo cave), and Lionycteris spurrelli, which accounted for 65% of all captures recorded for the two caves. Natalus macrourus is a species recorded in the Kararaô cave that is regionally threatened with extinction. Both caves are less than 500 m from the future reservoir; however, because the Kararaô cave entry is in an area that is lower than the reservoir, it can suffer alterations that would affect its dynamics. This raises great concern about the cave's associated fauna.
Assuntos
Distribuição Animal , Biodiversidade , Quirópteros/fisiologia , Animais , Brasil , CavernasRESUMO
Brazils large territory displays significant richness in caves with about 12 thousand caves already recorded. Nevertheless, studies on bats in these environments are extremely scarce and fragmented. This study characterized the chiropteran fauna from two sandstone caves under the influence of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam (Belo Monte UHE) in Pará, Brazil. The Kararaô and Kararaô Novo caves are located on the same ridge, 250 m apart. Three expeditions were carried out in 2013 and 2014, with a 4- to 5-month interval in between. A total of 589 animals were caught, 246 in the Kararaô cave and 343 in the Kararaô Novo cave. Fifteen species were recorded (13 in each cave) representing 79% similarity. With the exception of Vampyrum spectrum, which is not a cave species, the remaining recorded species were mostly cave bat species. Some species seemed to use the caves seasonally, although the basis of this pattern is still unknown. The most commonly observed species were Pteronotus personatus (dominant in the Kararaô cave), P. parnellii (dominant in the Kararaô Novo cave), and Lionycteris spurrelli, which accounted for 65% of all captures recorded for the two caves. Natalus macrourus is a species recorded in the Kararaô cave that is regionally threatened with extinction. Both caves are less than 500 m from the future reservoir; however, because the Kararaô cave entry is in an area that is lower than the reservoir, it can suffer alterations that would affect its dynamics. This raises great concern about the caves associated fauna.
O Brasil, com sua vasta porção territorial compreende uma alta riqueza de cavernas com cerca de 12 mil já registradas. Não obstante, os estudos sobre morcegos nestes ambientes são extremamente escassos e fragmentados. Neste estudo caracterizamos a quiropterofauna de duas cavernas areníticas sob influência da Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte no Pará. As cavernas Kararaô e Kararaô Novo estão localizadas na mesma escarpa separadas por 250 m uma da outra. Foram realizadas três expedições com intervalo de 4 e 5 meses nos anos de 2013 e 2014. Realizou-se 589 capturas, sendo 246 na caverna Kararaô e 343 na Kararaô Novo. Quinze espécies foram registradas das quais duas foram exclusivas de cada caverna, equivalendo a 79% de similaridade. Excetuando-se o registro de Vampyrum spectrum, uma espécie não cavernícola, todas as demais são morcegos usualmente ou preferencialmente cavernícolas. Algumas espécies parecem usar sazonalmente as cavernas embora o porquê deste padrão seja ainda desconhecido. As espécies mais comumente observadas foram Pteronotus personatus (dominante na Kararaô), P. parnellii (dominante na Kararaô Novo) e Lionycteris spurrelli que totalizaram 65% das capturas somando-se os registros das duas cavernas. Uma espécie ameaçada regionalmente de extinção, Natalus macrourus, foi registrada na Kararaô. As duas cavernas estão a menos de 500 metros do futuro reservatório da UHE Belo Monte, porém, a entrada da caverna Kararaô está em uma cota mais baixa que a do limite do reservatório, podendo sofrer alteração em sua dinâmica, denotando maior preocupação em relação a sua fauna associada.
Assuntos
Animais , Biodiversidade , Distribuição Animal , Quirópteros/fisiologia , Brasil , CavernasRESUMO
Brazils large territory displays significant richness in caves with about 12 thousand caves already recorded. Nevertheless, studies on bats in these environments are extremely scarce and fragmented. This study characterized the chiropteran fauna from two sandstone caves under the influence of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam (Belo Monte UHE) in Pará, Brazil. The Kararaô and Kararaô Novo caves are located on the same ridge, 250 m apart. Three expeditions were carried out in 2013 and 2014, with a 4- to 5-month interval in between. A total of 589 animals were caught, 246 in the Kararaô cave and 343 in the Kararaô Novo cave. Fifteen species were recorded (13 in each cave) representing 79% similarity. With the exception of Vampyrum spectrum, which is not a cave species, the remaining recorded species were mostly cave bat species. Some species seemed to use the caves seasonally, although the basis of this pattern is still unknown. The most commonly observed species were Pteronotus personatus (dominant in the Kararaô cave), P. parnellii (dominant in the Kararaô Novo cave), and Lionycteris spurrelli, which accounted for 65% of all captures recorded for the two caves. Natalus macrourus is a species recorded in the Kararaô cave that is regionally threatened with extinction. Both caves are less than 500 m from the future reservoir; however, because the Kararaô cave entry is in an area that is lower than the reservoir, it can suffer alterations that would affect its dynamics. This raises great concern about the caves associated fauna.(AU)
O Brasil, com sua vasta porção territorial compreende uma alta riqueza de cavernas com cerca de 12 mil já registradas. Não obstante, os estudos sobre morcegos nestes ambientes são extremamente escassos e fragmentados. Neste estudo caracterizamos a quiropterofauna de duas cavernas areníticas sob influência da Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte no Pará. As cavernas Kararaô e Kararaô Novo estão localizadas na mesma escarpa separadas por 250 m uma da outra. Foram realizadas três expedições com intervalo de 4 e 5 meses nos anos de 2013 e 2014. Realizou-se 589 capturas, sendo 246 na caverna Kararaô e 343 na Kararaô Novo. Quinze espécies foram registradas das quais duas foram exclusivas de cada caverna, equivalendo a 79% de similaridade. Excetuando-se o registro de Vampyrum spectrum, uma espécie não cavernícola, todas as demais são morcegos usualmente ou preferencialmente cavernícolas. Algumas espécies parecem usar sazonalmente as cavernas embora o porquê deste padrão seja ainda desconhecido. As espécies mais comumente observadas foram Pteronotus personatus (dominante na Kararaô), P. parnellii (dominante na Kararaô Novo) e Lionycteris spurrelli que totalizaram 65% das capturas somando-se os registros das duas cavernas. Uma espécie ameaçada regionalmente de extinção, Natalus macrourus, foi registrada na Kararaô. As duas cavernas estão a menos de 500 metros do futuro reservatório da UHE Belo Monte, porém, a entrada da caverna Kararaô está em uma cota mais baixa que a do limite do reservatório, podendo sofrer alteração em sua dinâmica, denotando maior preocupação em relação a sua fauna associada.(AU)