Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei

Universidade de Rio Verde

Author Statistics

Papers

Citation

H-Index

i-10 index

Research Trends

Author Order

Document Type

Co-Authors

Cássio Cardoso Pereira

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

MARCEL SANTOS DE ARAÚJO

Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Tatiana Cornelissen

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Thandy Júnio da Silva Pinto

Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

Nathália Ribeiro Henriques

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Geraldo Wilson Fernandes

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Diego Ferreira Gomes

Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Wilian Vaz Silva

Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás

Cristina M. Borges

Jessica Aline Alves

Cooperative Institutions

Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Universidade de São Paulo

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Federal University of São João del-Rei

Universidade Federal de Lavras

Universidade Federal de Goiás

Elabora Consultoria (Brazil)

Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte

Weatherford College

Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás

Author Statistics

Papers

Citation

H-Index

i-10 index

Research Field

Necrophagy in cave environments: ecological pressure due to food scarcity? A case study of necrophagy by a harvestman Discocyrtanus canjinjim Carvalho & Kury, 2017 (Arachnida: Opiliones) preying on an Eidmanacris sp. (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) carcass

Entomological Communications (2024)

Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Cristina M. Borges MARCEL SANTOS DE ARAÚJO

Cave environments present stable abiotic conditions, including permanent darkness, high humidity, and mild temperatures, while biotic factors reflect simplified ecological networks and energy constraints. Cave invertebrates, primarily detritivores and generalists, demonstrate specific adaptations to these conditions. Predation and necrophagy are critical behaviors shaped by the cave's scarcity of food resources. In this study, we report a rare necrophagy event involving Discocyrtanus canjinjim Carvalho & Kury, 2017 (Arachnida: Opiliones) feeding on a deceased cricket (Eidmanacris sp.) (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) in the Ponte de Pedra I Cave, Brazil. This limestone cave features large entrances and supports an oligotrophic system. The event occurred in an aphotic zone, where the harvestman displayed no flee behavior despite external stimuli. The presence of other predatory arachnids suggests potential intra-guild competition. Opiliones in the Cerrado and Caatinga exhibit opportunistic carnivory, consuming various prey taxa, including insects and vertebrates. Necrophagy, intra-guild predation, and cannibalism are behaviors reported in subterranean populations due to limited food availability. Climate change and anthropogenic pressures, such as deforestation and mining, threaten the stability of cave environments. Observations like this contribute to understanding the ecological dynamics within caves, highlighting the importance of preserving these fragile ecosystems.

Opiliones

Guild

10.37486/2675-1305.ec06038

Cite

Citations (0)

Characterization of anuran fauna inside caves in Brazil

Biota Neotropica (2024)

Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Wilian Vaz Silva Francisco Leonardo Tejerina‐Garro

Abstract: The natural underground environment has unique characteristics when compared to surface environments. These environments feature a reduced complexity food web that includes organisms such as anuran amphibians. This study examines the occurrence of Neotropical anurans in Brazilian caves, utilizing taxonomic, geographic, geological, and environmental data extracted from the scientific literature. A total of 247 anuran records were found in caves across 18 scientific papers covering a 42-years period (from 1980 to 2022). Of these, 177 records (71.6%) displayed the anurans identified to the species level (54 species), with the families Leptodactylidae (13 species; 24.1%), Hylidae (12; 22.2%), and Bufonidae (10; 18.5%) being the most frequently recorded. The anuran records were predominant in the states of Minas Gerais (81 records; 34.8%) and São Paulo (35; 15.0%). The Atlantic Forest had the highest number of records (78; 33.5%), followed by ecotonal zones between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (43; 18.5%). Environmental information was scarce in the consulted records, with only 12 providing detail about the cave light zone where the anuran was found (nine in the entrance zone) and 63 indicating the presence/absence of water bodies. Carbonaceous (109; 46.8%) and ferruginous (76; 33.9%) lithology predominated among the caves considered. The low number of sampled caves (55 caves; 0.24%) compared to the total number of caves registered in Brazil (23,278 caves) underscores a knowledge gap regarding Neotropical anurans use of subterranean habitats.

10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2024-1657

Cite

Citations (0)

Are caves true habitats for anurans or more a favorable rocky environment? A discussion of habitat occupation by frogs in Neotropical caves

Neotropical Biology and Conservation (2023)

Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Denizar Alvarenga MARCEL SANTOS DE ARAÚJO Cássio Cardoso Pereira

Not applicable

10.3897/neotropical.18.e100778

Cite

Citations (2)

Small reserve but high diversity: butterfly community across an altitudinal gradient in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Nature Conservation (2023)

Andrêsa G. Andrade Cássio Cardoso Pereira Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Tatiana Cornelissen

The present study aimed to describe the composition of the butterfly community in relation to the altitudinal gradient in the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Alto-Montana, Serra da Mantiqueira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to provide a list of species for the area. We collected samples in the RPPN Alto-Montana along an altitudinal gradient from 1400 to 2100 m, between the dry and rainy seasons of 2018 and 2019. During this period, the sampling method utilizing Van-Someren Rydon traps totaled 3,936 hours and the effort using sweep nets totaled 246 hours. A total of 1,253 butterflies distributed across 124 species and six families of diurnal butterflies were observed (Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, and Riodinidae). Nymphalidae was the most representative family, followed by Hesperiidae, Pieridade, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. Moreover, we recorded 37 species with only one individual ( singletons ) and 20 species with only two individuals ( doubletons ), totalling 57 species, which corresponds to 46% of all sampled richness. The rarefaction curve did not reveal a tendency toward stabilization. However, the indices showed slightly higher values for the 124 species sampled. The analysis performed using the Bootstrap estimator predicted a total of 143.22 species (± 10.87 SE), with a further 19 additional species than observed. Chao 1 predicted 153.42 (± 11.82 SE), and Jackknife 1 predicted 164.00 (± 16.29 SE) species, with 29 and 40 additional species than the observed, respectively. Our study contributes to the knowledge of butterfly biodiversity in Serra da Mantiqueira and reveals a high species richness for the RPPN Alto Montana, especially considering the relatively small area. In addition, our study provides the first inventory of butterflies for the RPPN Alto Montana, thus supporting further studies investigating the butterfly richness in the Serra da Mantiqueira region. Finally, our findings of endemic, rare, and endangered butterfly species highlight the relevance of further conservation strategies to be considered for the Protected Area’s Management Plan.

Lycaenidae

Nymphalidae

Pieridae

Rarefaction (ecology)

10.3897/natureconservation.53.113052

Cite

Citations (0)

Gallers as leaf rollers: ecosystem engineering in a tropical system and its effects on arthropod biodiversity

Ecological Entomology (2020)

Cássio Cardoso Pereira Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Nathália Ribeiro Henriques Álvaro Augusto Naves Silva Geraldo Wilson Fernandes

Gall‐inducers can be considered ecosystem engineers when they modify leaf morphology and create shelters for secondary users, altering properties of ecological communities. In this study, we evaluated whether shelter structures created by leaf‐galling contribute to changes in the diversity and composition of the community at plant and leaf scales, the effects of leaf roll occupation on the choice of secondary colonisers and the influence of leaf shelters on herbivory levels on host plants. The arthropod abundance, richness, and biomass were higher in leaf shelters compared to intact leaves. These effects were observed at similar magnitudes at both plant and leaf scales. The composition of arthropods differed between plants with leaf‐rolled galls and plants with galls removed and between unoccupied leaf rolls and intact leaves. Artificial leaf rolls increased arthropod abundance, richness, and biomass by almost 100.0% compared to intact leaves. However, occupied artificial leaf rolls had a decrease in abundance, richness, and biomass of arthropods by almost 60.0% compared to unoccupied leaf rolls. Finally, plants with galls removed exhibited higher levels of leaf herbivory than plants with leaf‐rolled galls. Our findings demonstrated the strong and positive indirect effects of gall induction facilitating shelter creation and the indirect effects of shelters on the diversity, species composition, and on leaf herbivory, and should be replicated in other systems involving plants and their respective gallers.

Arthropod

10.1111/een.12993

Cite

Citations (16)

Notes on the predation of an assassin bug by a spider in a Neotropical cave

Subterranean Biology (2020)

Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Lívia D. Audino Carlos Henrique Sena Jessica Aline Alves

Intraguild predation have rarely been documented in scientific literature, even though this type of interaction can affect population dynamics and competition. In this study we present an intraguild predation event that occurred at different times, but in the same cave, where we observed spiders of the species Enoploctenus cyclotorax preying on specimens of assassin bug Zelurus diasi . Inside the studied caves, food resources are scarce and populations can be fairly small in size. It is possible, therefore, that these events are the result of ecological pressures imposed by the hypogean environment.

Intraguild predation

10.3897/subtbiol.33.48292

Cite

Citations (2)

Ecological risk assessment for metals in sediment and waters from the Brazilian Amazon region

Chemosphere (2023)

Diego Ferreira Gomes Thandy Júnio da Silva Pinto Larissa Broggio Raymundo Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei Michiel A. Daam

Biota

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140413

Cite

Citations (5)