Myriapod (Arthropoda, Myriapoda) diversity and distribution in a floodplain forest of the Brazilian Pantanal

ABSTRACT

This study presents the diversity and distribution of myriapod species associated with different habitats in a seasonally flooded forest composed predominantly of Vochysia divergens Pohl. (Vochysiaceae) in the Brazilian Pantanal. We evaluated species richness distribution across habitats and over different seasonal periods, and also identified possible survival strategies employed during periodic flooding that occur within this forest. A total of 1505 myriapods were sampled, representing four classes and 15 species. Diplopoda and Chilopoda were the most abundant and rich taxa. Pauropoda and Symphyla were represented by only one species each. Species richness was distinctly distributed across habitats evaluated in this forest, as well as over the different seasonal periods. Survival strategies observed in Diplopoda and Chilopoda were primarily associated with vertical migration ranging from the edaphic environment to tree trunks and canopies, and horizontal migration associated with water level before and during the flood period. Species richness was considered low; however, the survival strategies, especially vertical and horizontal migration, demonstrate the adaptation of these species to the seasonal floods of this ecosystem.

KEYWORDS:

• Arthropods
• seasonality
• species richness
• wetlands

Acknowledgments

The authors dedicate this work to Prof. Dr Joachim Adis (in memoriam) for his enthusiasm to the study of arthropods in floodplains and for his important scientific contributions to this research. This study is part of the results of scientific cooperation between the Max-Planck Institute for Limnology, Plön, Germany, and the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá-MT, Brazil. We thank the Post-Graduate Program in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation, and the UFMT Institute of Biosciences for the infrastructure made available for the development of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support was provided by the Pantanal Research Center (CPP), the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso - FAPEMAT [Process 155864/2015], and A.D. Brescovit received financial grant from CNPq [Process 303028/2014-9].