Knowledge of the patterns in the spatial distribution of species provides valuable information about the factors (resources and environment) that regulate the use of space by animals. Typically, the distribution of litter-dwelling scorpions in Atlantic forests is correlated with the structure of their microhabitats, although to better understand their natural history more studies on the patterns in their use of space are required. Therefore, we investigated the effect of rainfall on the patterns in the spatial distributions and population densities of two sympatric species of scorpion, Tityus (Archaeotityus) pusillus Pocock 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço 1982 in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The study was carried out during the dry (September) and rainy (June) months. We collected 501 individuals (268 T. (A.) pusillus and 233 A. mauryi) by actively searching at night using UV lanterns. We found that the spatial distribution and population density of T. (A.) pusillus, but not A. mauryi, were significantly affected by rainfall, with T. (A.) pusillus individuals showing a clumped pattern during the rainy month and random distribution in the dry month. We also found a different response in the population densities of the two species, with T. (A.) pusillus but not A. mauryi being affected by rainfall. Our results indicate that, although co-habiting in leaf litter, these species respond differently to rainfall, which affects their spatial distribution and abundance in this habitat., Gabriela Cavalcanti Silva de Gusmão Santos, Welton Dionisio-Da-Silva, João Pedro Souza-Alves, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque, André Felipe de Araujo Lira., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Na hustě osídleném ostrově Srí Lanka se zachovalo necelých 5 % primárních deštných lesů. Část z nich je chráněna v biosférické rezervaci Sinharaja na jihozápadě země. Vysoký stupeň endemismu je typický pro flóru i faunu rezervace. Různorodé rostlinné formace, které se plynule mění od nížin až po submontánní stupeň, představují refugium pro mnohé vzácné a ohrožené druhy živočichů - více než 50 % z nich je endemických. Protože o toto chráněné území projevuje zájem stále větší počet turistů, lze předpokládat, že nebude v budoucnu ohroženo exploatací a bude i nadále spravováno podle nejnovějších poznatků ekologů. I proto je pro návštěvníky zpřístupněna jen nepatrná část rezervace., Only 5 % of primary rainforests have been preserved on the densely populated island of Sri Lanka. Some rainforests are preserved within the biosphere reserve Sinharaja in the southwest of the country, with a high degree of flora and fauna endemism. Various plant formations, changing from lowlands up to the submontaneous level, provide a refuge for rare and endangered species of animals (more than 50 % endemic). Due to rising tourism, the area likely will not be much exploited and will be managed according to the latest ecological knowledge., and Jozef Májsky.