Estudo taxonômico, ecológico e conservacionista da araneofauna (arachnida: araneae) em uma área de encrave de savana e floresta estacional semidecidual do cerrado no município de Dianópolis, Tocantins, Brasil

Abstract

The Cerrado is considered one of the most threatened biomes in Brazil, and despite its great diversity, few studies are focused on the description, conservation, and protection of the organisms existing in the biome. When it comes to arachnids, especially spiders, this information is even rarer. Thus, the present dissertation had the general objective of inventorying the spider fauna in an area of enclave of Savanna and Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest of the Cerrado in the municipality of Dianópolis, Tocantins, Brazil. As results, it was possible to describe four new species: three species of Selenops (Selenopidae) and one of Harmonicon (Dipluridae). A list of morphospecies of the families found during the two years of collections was also made. Field observations revealed the need to discuss how the relationship between fire, humans, and the Cerrado is further accelerating its extinction process. This advance is so significant that it raises concerns about the urgency of increasing the number of research studies and biodiversity professionals in this region. Thus, the dissertation is divided into five chapters: the first presents the description of the new species of Selenops (Araneae: Selenopidae); the second is a study on medically important spiders and the expansion of records of Loxosceles amazonica; the third chapter is the description of Harmonicon; the fourth is the initial proposal of the research, which is the inventory of spiders; and the fifth and final chapter discusses all the impacts and degradation found in the biome, especially the impact of fire in this biome.