Seasonal variations in scorpion activities (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in an area of Caatinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil
Zoologia (Curitiba, Impr.)
; 27(3)2010.
Article
em En
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LILACS-Express
| VETINDEX
| ID: biblio-1503847
Biblioteca responsável:
BR68.1
ABSTRACT
Seasonal variations in scorpion activity were investigated during a 24 month period in an area of Caatinga (dryland) vegetation in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The total number of scorpions captured was correlated with climatic variables and prey abundance. Scorpions were captured monthly using pitfall traps; their potential prey was captured using malaise, beating trays and pitfalls. A total of 104 scorpions were captured, representing four species the bothriurids Bothriurus asper (Pocock, 1893) (n = 74; 71.2%) and B. rochai (Mello-Leitão, 1932) (n = 20; 19.2%), and the buthids Rhopalurus rochai (Borelli, 1910) (n = 4; 3.8%) and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (n = 1; 1.0%). The sex ratios (malefemale) of the two most abundant species were 141 for B. asper and 71 for B. rochai. The abundance of scorpions captured was significantly correlated with precipitation, real evapotranspiration, and abundance of invertebrates (mainly insects). Scorpion activities, especially those of B. asper and B. rochai, may be closely related to their reproductive cycles. Reproduction apparently reaches its maximum when there is an abundance of food, which in the Caatinga is strongly associated with rainfall patterns.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
VETINDEX
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Zoologia (Curitiba, Impr.)
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article