The effects of human activities on the scorpion fauna

Human activities and habitat change or destruction will have an impact on the scorpion fauna in an area in different ways. Some species die out, some move, while others are able to adapt to the new circumstances. Knowledge about this is important to be able to preserve biodiversity in vulnerable areas.

Andre Lira and co-workers published this fall a study from Brazil on the effects of human activities and habitat changes in Neotropical forests. Not surprisingly effects where observed, but they were different among the involved species. The contrasting responses of scorpion species in this study to anthropogenic land-use may offer an insight into a differential ecological plasticity of this taxa.

Abstract:
Changes in land-cover driven by human activities is one of the main causes of disturbances on natural communities but the impact of this factor on scorpions assemblages remains scarcely know. Here we analyzed the scorpion fauna in five tropical forests and their respective neighboring non-natural matrix (planted forests or crops) in Brazil (n = 4) and Mexico (n = 1), aiming to understand how different species of scorpions respond to land-use changes. Scorpions were actively collected with the help of a UV flashlight. A total of 461 individuals were sampled, belonging to nine species and seven genera distributed in three families Buthidae, Bothriuridae and Diplocentridae. Differences in assemblages between environments were found, with higher gamma diversity in undisturbed environments where species showed the highest abundance. A higher species turnover was found in disturbed environments. Based on these results, we suggest a differential sensitive reaction to habitat  lterations amongst scorpions species.

Reference:
Lira AFA, Pordeus LM, Salomão RP, Badillo-Montaño R, Albuquerque CMR. Effects of anthropogenic land-use on scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Neotropical forests. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. 2019:1-8. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their article!