Biodiversity of Pantepui. The Pristine “Lost World” of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands

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Cover Biodiversity of Pantepui Copyright List of contributors Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Aims and scope General aspects The photosynthetic world Animal diversity Biodiversity conservation References Part I: General Aspects 1 Definition and characterization of the Pantepui biogeographical province Introduction History of the Pantepui biogeographical concept Phytogeographical Pantepui Physical setting Climatic conditions The biotic component Pantepui floristic subdivisions Eastern district Jaua-Duida district (Central district) Western district Southern district Other tepuis Zoogeographical insights Conclusions and final remarks References 2 Climatic and ecological history of Pantepui and surrounding areas Introduction Regional paleoclimatic trends Paleoecology of Pantepui and adjacent areas The Last Glacial Maximum The Late Glacial The Holocene The last millennium Final remarks References 3 Pantepui as a dynamic biogeographical concept Introduction Hypotheses and approaches The Pantepui components The orographic Pantepui The climatic Pantepui The biotic Pantepui The Pantepui oscillator The future Conclusions and further research Acknowledgments References 4 Origin and evolution of the Pantepui biota Introduction Evolutionary inferences from biogeography The pioneers The followers The outsiders Vicariance versus dispersal Paleoecological contributions and geological insights Quaternary paleoecology Pre-Quaternary diversification Molecular phylogenetics and phylogeography Neotropical diversification Pantepui Plants Amphibians Birds Mammals General conclusions Further research Acknowledgments References Part II: The Photosynthetic World 5 Algae Introduction Algae and extreme environments Endemism of algae and other microorganisms Phycological studies on Pantepui Major groups of algae represented on tepuis Cyanobacteria Diatoms (phylum Bacillariophyta) Green algae (phyla Charophyta and Chlorophyta) Other algal groups represented on tepuis Tepuis and algal endemics References 6 Vascular plants and bryophytes Introduction Main patterns of diversity in vascular plants Overall flora richness and endemism Taxonomic diversity across main plant groups Diversity patterns across tepuis Pantepui bryophytes Current phylogenetic knowledge and biogeographic implications Pteridophytes Angiosperms Future perspectives on phylogeography References 7 Plant communities Introduction The table-mountain landscape of the Guiana Shield Overview Main plant habitats Vegetation types Forest formation (types 1–12) Shrubland formation (types 13–22) Herbaceous formation (types 23–40) Grasslands Meadows Pioneer formations Endemic vegetation types in Pantepui Asteraceae Chimantaea colonies Bromeliaceae Brewcaria colonies Brocchinia colonies Sarraceniaceae Heliamphora colonies Phytosociological studies Final remarks References Part III: Animal Diversity 8 Aquatic insects Introduction Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Caddisflies (Trichoptera) Orthopterans (Orthoptera) Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) Dobsonflies (Megaloptera) Beetles (Coleoptera) True bugs (Heteroptera) True flies (Diptera) Origin and evolution of Pantepui aquatic insects Recommendations for conservation of the aquatic insects of Pantepui and ideas for future research References 9 Butterflies Introduction The biogeographic Pantepui Exploration, discovery, and taxonomic studies of butterflies in the tepuis Endemic butterflies of Pantepui Biogeographic significance and conclusions Pantepui province Synonymy References 10 Scorpions Introduction First explorations Gonzalez-Sponga’s contributions Expeditions in the Guiana region Recent years Pattern of diversity and endemism of scorpions Endemism Distribution patterns References Appendix 10.1 Total list of scorpion species from Pantepui and the surrounding areas in the Guiana region, with the name of... 11 Land snails Introduction Material and methods Systematics Species of Pantepui sensu stricto (≥1500m) Species from Eastern Pantepui District Roraima subdistrict Chimantá subdistrict Species from Central Pantepui District Species from Western Pantepui District Species from Southern Pantepui District Species of the uplands and lowlands (below 1500m) Species from the Southern Pantepui region Ecology Biogeography Further avenues for research References 12 Amphibians and reptiles Introduction Defining Pantepui for amphibians and reptiles Amphibians and reptiles of the Guiana Highlands State of knowledge Richness Endemism Patterns of species richness and geographical distribution Insights on the origin and evolution of the Pantepui herpetofauna Final remarks References Appendix 12.1 Amphibians and reptiles of the Guiana Highlands (≥1200m asl) 13 Birds Introduction A definition of Pantepui Patterns of diversity and endemism Endemism in Pantepui and its geographical distribution Ecological and geographical factors correlated with patterns of diversity and endemism The role of sampling biases in studying patterns of diversity and endemism Historical explanations for diversity and endemism in Pantepui Geographical differentiation and diversification within Pantepui Origin of Pantepui birds Future prospects and conservation References Appendix I List of the 141 species included in previous analyses of Pantepui avifauna and this study. Category: PE, Pantepu... Appendix II Changes in the taxonomy of Pantepui birds since Mayr and Phelps (1967). Current names are based on the South Am... Appendix III Endemic species from Pantepui and its distribution based on biogeographic sectors as defined by Berry et al. (... 14 Mammals Introduction Mammalian richness of the Guianas Elevational occurrence Pantepui mammals Altitudinal distribution Geographic distribution Species composition of massifs and tepuis Biogeography References Appendix 14.1 Species of mammals documented from the Guianas by altitudinal categories (lowlands, uplands, and highlands), ... 15 Vertebrate parasites Introduction Historical expeditions Recent collections Preliminary conclusions References Part IV: Biodiversity Conservation 16 Conservation of Pantepui: between complex emergency and climate change Introduction Antecedents in the conservation of Pantepui Failure of natural resource management institutions Complex crisis Climate change Final reflection References 17 Pantepui and global warming Introduction Current extinction estimates Conservation insights In situ actions Some ex situ possibilities Weaknesses and future research Environmental factors driving species range shifts Influence of topography and substrate Autoecological features of the involved species Latest IPCC estimates and warming acceleration Bureaucratic constraints Conclusions and recommendations References Taxonomic Index Subject Index Back Cover