Goats are not scorpions' best friend

 

                                                    Illustration: DALL-E/ChatGPT

Habitat destruction due to human impact is a threat to many animals, scorpions included. In a recent study, Thayna Rhayane Brito-Almeida and co-workers have investigated the impact of non-native, grassing goats on the scorpion fauna in Brazil.

The study showed that the goats have a negative impact on the habitat and both the species richness and abundance of scorpions in areas with grazing goats. The presence of goats also seemed to cause reduced body mass and size in the scorpions compared to areas without goats.

Abstract:
Extensive grazing carried out freely by exotic goats represents an important source of anthropogenic degradation in seasonally dry tropical forests of Brazil. The presence of these herbivores may negatively impact the local fauna through the reduction of habitat complexity. In this study, we investigate the effect of goat farming in scorpion assemblage from Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest. Scorpions were sampled in 36 areas (18 disturbed and 18 undisturbed) distributed in three sites in the seasonally dry tropical forest of Brazil. At each location, we recorded a set of local variables such as litter depth, diameter at breast height of trees, vegetation density (trees and shrubs), and detritus (stones and fallen logs). In total, 396 scorpions were collected, distributed across six species and two families. Our results showed that scorpion diversity was negatively affected, with species richness and abundance reduced in areas influenced by goats. Furthermore, in these sites, the composition of the species was also affected, with habitat-generalist species favoring habitat-specialist species. Finally, sites with free pasture of goats presented scorpions with reduced body condition (body mass and size) than sites without goats. Furthermore, habitat degradation caused by free pasture of goats negatively affects the assemblage of scorpions in terms of their diversity and body condition the seasonally dry tropical forest of Brazil.

Reference:
Brito‐Almeida TR, Foerster SÍA, Lima JR, da Silva MA, de Moura GJB, de Araujo Lira AF. Free Pasture of Exotic Goats Reduces Diversity and Negatively Affects Body Condition in Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Assemblage From Brazilian Seasonal Dry Tropical Forest. Ecology and evolution. 2025;15(1):e70804. [Open Access]

Thanks to André for sending me their article!