Are there co-occurrence patterns that structure snake communities in Central Brazil?

AFB. Araújo,FGR. França

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842007000100005

AFB. Araújo, FGR. França

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842007000100005

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Abstract

The main factors that structure Neotropical animal communities have been the subject of discussion in ecology communities. We used a set of null models to investigate the existence of structure in snake communities from the Cerrado in Central Brazil in relation to the co-occurrence of species and guilds concerning specific resources. We used fragments (conservation units) inside the Distrito Federal and neighbor municipalities. In spite of recent human colonization in the region from the end of the 1950s, intense habitat modification and fragmentation has taken place. Sixty three snake species are present in the Distrito Federal. Co-occurrence analysis of species and guilds associated to snake diets and habitats suggested a lack of organization. The homogeneity of habitats in Central Brazil and the minor importance of ecological effects can lead to random arrangement.

Highlights

Understanding processes responsible for the community structure is a central problem in community ecology
A total of 63 snake species were found in our study site in Central Brazil (Table 1)
Corallus hortulanus and Imantodes cenchoa were only collected in neighboring cities outside the Distrito Federal

Summary

Introduction

Understanding processes responsible for the community structure is a central problem in community ecology. The topic has been widely debated by many ecologists studying different taxa and biomes (Cody, 1974; Pianka, 1973; Ricklefs and Schluter, 1993). The comparative observation of ecological interactions between species provides a wide range of evidence concerning the importance of ecology in community structure (Cody and Diamond, 1975; Losos, 1983; Pianka, 1986; Schoener, 1974). Few studies have investigated the effect of isolation on the reptiles’ community structure (Case, 1983; Gainsbury and Colli, 2003; Murphy, 1983). Isolation promotes local colonization and extinctions that influence species interactions. The longer they have been in isolation, the

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