Ecologia populacional de Goniosoma sp. (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) em uma caverna ferruginosa do município de Ouro Preto, MG

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the population size and to show possible allometric variations between individuals. A total of 167 individuals were observed, from witch 69 were males, 78 were females and 20 were immature. Parental care was observed during all the study. The females were always near their clutches that were laid on the walls of the cave. Six aggregations were observed. There was an average of 8,67 individuals per aggregation, and females were more common, representing 64,4% of the aggregated individuals. The operational sex ratio was 1:1,18. The species is trogloxen, leaving the cave regularly to feed in the nearest trees and rocky walls, and returning in the morning. A Principal Components Analysis (PCA) evidenced a sexual dimorphism in the sizes of the second leg and its femur, the males with average leg length of 123,47 mm and femur length of 38,39 mm and the females with average leg length of
79,13 mm and femur length of 25,14 mm.