Abstract Caves rank among the most biologically unique ecosystems on the planet, but their biodiversity remains significantly underestimated, even after decades of research, as observed at Gruta da Tapagem (Caverna do Diabo). We present here the first historical and long-term faunistic inventory for both tourist and non-tourist sections of Gruta da Tapagem, one of the largest and most significant caves in the Upper Ribeira region, state of São Paulo, Brazil, where the earliest faunistic inventories in the country were conducted. Based on the compilation of historical records (dating back to the late 1960s) and six systematic field campaigns conducted between 2021 and 2023 (covering both the dry and rainy seasons), we recorded 157 morphospecies of invertebrates and vertebrates, representing a 60% increase compared to the 95 species documented. Among the 142 invertebrate morphospecies recorded in the cave, 11 exhibit troglomorphic traits and are considered troglobites, 65 are troglophiles, and at least four represent new species to science. Alpha diversity, quantified using Hill indices (q0–q2), was consistently higher during the rainy season (with a 30.2% increase in species richness compared to the non-rainy season) and in the tourist section (with a 66% increase compared to the non-tourist section). Total beta-diversity across the surveys was high (β_SOR = 0.65) and dominated by the turnover component (β_SIM = 0.52) rather than nestedness, indicating that dynamic species replacement is the primary community-structuring process. Rarefaction and extrapolation based on sampling coverage confirmed that multiple surveys approximated near-complete local inventories (coverage > 92%), although asymptotic estimates of species richness consistently exceeded observed values, indicating the existence of undetected diversity. Land-use analysis over 30 years (1993–2023) revealed a predominantly forested and stable landscape around the cave, consistent with its location within Caverna do Diabo State Park, although an expansion of agricultural activities was detected after 2013. The detection of specimens of Zoraptera insects and amphipods of the family Talitridae as likely introduced species, along with the observation of damage caused by trampling and inert material, underscores the need for long-term monitoring to effectively protect this unique ecosystem.
Blackwater streams are unique environments characterized by dark, acidic, and nutrient-poor waters, supporting highly specialized aquatic communities. This study presents an inventory of the ichthyofauna of such systems in the northern region of Santa Catarina state, based on surveys conducted between 2020 and 2024. A total of 22 sites were sampled, including perennial rivers, intermittent streams, and temporary pools, located both within and outside protected areas. In total, 30 fish species were recorded, representing 13 families and five orders. The order Characiformes showed the highest richness and was represented mainly by small-characins of the family Acestrorhamphidae. Nine species were identified as endemic to blackwater environments of the Atlantic Forest, five of which officially listed as threatened. The guppy Poecilia reticulata was recorded for the first time in blackwater environments of the region, as well as Brachyhypopomus cf. draco, representing the first record of Hypopomidae (knifefish) in the region. DNA barcoding (using COI) provided molecular information, in addition to the morphological identification of 12 species, providing new local sequences for them. Results indicated a high similarity between the ichthyofauna of this region and that of blackwater streams in the southern coast of S & atilde;o Paulo. Endemic and threatened species were recorded both inside and outside legally protected areas, highlighting gaps in current conservation efforts. Furthermore, intermittent streams and temporary pools proved to be critical habitats for maintaining species with extremely restricted distributions. The continued degradation of riparian vegetation, combined with climate change, poses an additional threat to the persistence of these communities. These findings underscore the urgent need to expand conservation actions targeting blackwater ecosystems along the southern Brazilian coastal plain.
Ecotones or transitional zones are areas where elements of adjacent ecosystems overlap. They stand out for harboring rich biological diversity, representing priority areas for conservation. In this context, this study aimed to assess the richness and composition of butterflies (Papilionoidea) in a transitional area between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes located on the eastern edge of the Borborema Plateau, in the municipality of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, an area currently subject to heavy human disturbance. Butterfly sampling was carried out monthly during two consecutive days along six transects pre-established to encompass different habitats, from October 2023 to August 2024. Two sampling methods were used: Van Someren-Rydon traps and entomological nets. A total of 214 species were recorded, distributed in six families, 20 subfamilies, and 156 genera. Hesperiidae was the richest family (92 spp.), followed by Nymphalidae (61 spp.), Lycaenidae (29 spp.), Pieridae (17 spp.), Riodinidae (12 spp.), and Papilionidae (3 spp.). Of these, 15 are new records for Paraiba, and three for Northeastern Brazil. Species richness varied seasonally, with 203 species being recorded during the rainy season (66 being exclusive to it) and 148 during the dry season (11 of these being exclusive to it). The butterfly richness recorded in this study exceeds that reported in all previous inventories conducted in Caatinga areas and other transitional zones in Northeastern Brazil, as well as in some studies in the Atlantic Forest biome. Overall, the high diversity and presence of previously unrecorded taxa suggest that the ecotones may function as a biodiversity refuge, highlighting the need for their formal protection.
Galling arthropods are endophagous herbivorous that induce in plants the development of structures named galls. The abundance and richness of these organisms are influenced by many conditions, like the vegetation structure and seasonality. In the Brazilian Cerrado, the knowledge about the gall-inductors is still emerging, as well as the conditions that affect their community structure. Thus, this work aimed perform an inventory of galling arthropods in areas of cerrado sensu stricto in the Serra do Cabral State Park (Minas Gerais, Brazil), besides evaluate the effect of the vegetation structure and seasonality on the galling community. The host plant and gall sampling was performed in 20 plots (each 100 m2), including all woody plants alive, during September and November 2019, representing the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Statistical analyses were carried out through GLM's, using data of vegetation structure and seasonality as explanatory variables. As results, we obtained 50 gall morphotypes corresponding to 20 botanical families, with Fabaceae presenting the greater gall richness (18 morphotypes). The galling arthropods were indeterminate in mostly, and among the identified, Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) was the richest group, responsible for 15 morphotypes. The shape of gall shape more frequent was lenticular (48%). We recovered the effect of the vegetation structure as significant on the galling arthropods richness, besides a higher diversity during the dry season. These results can be assigned to the correlation between the plant and galling diversities, and the endophagous biology of the immatures along the dry season, usually emerging only to reproduce in the rainy season. This work evidences the influence of the vegetation structure and seasonality on the community of galling arthropods in an area of Cerrado.
Biodiversity loss remains one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century and underscores the importance of global initiatives implemented in Brazil within the framework of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Situated within the Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened biodiversity hotspots, the state of Rio de Janeiro harbors high levels of plant diversity and endemism under intense anthropogenic pressure, making it a critical case for evaluating conservation policies. This study examines national and regional efforts to conserve over 500 threatened endemic plant species in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on the role and effectiveness of key public policy instruments. Programs implemented through PRONABIO, PROBIO, and FUNBIO have enabled important advances, supporting initiatives such as the National Forest Inventory, the Protected Areas of the State of Rio de Janeiro project, and the Keeping an Eye on the Green Project. These efforts culminated in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endemic Flora Threatened with Extinction in Rio de Janeiro. More recent initiatives, including the Rio de Janeiro State Biodiversity Portal and the Subnational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (EPAEB-RJ), have sought to improve data availability and transparency. However, these advances remain uneven and often limited in continuity and scale. The analysis reveals significant asymmetries in the effectiveness of these instruments. While they have contributed to building a robust scientific and institutional foundation, their long-term effectiveness is constrained by discontinuities in funding, irregular data updating, and limited integration between scientific knowledge production and regulatory frameworks. In particular, gaps between updated scientific data and their incorporation into official instruments compromise the accuracy and effectiveness of conservation planning. These findings indicate that the main barriers to effective flora conservation are not related to a lack of scientific knowledge, but to institutional constraints affecting governance, data integration, policy implementation, continuity of financial support, and the accessibility of updated data. In this context, the experience of Rio de Janeiro highlights both the potential and the limitations of decentralized and multisectoral strategies, providing a contextual basis for discussing governance challenges relevant to conservation of threatened endemic flora in other biodiversity-rich regions.
