Biodiversidade subterrânea de Portugal: de deserto biológico a hotspot de classe mundial

Biodiversidade subterrânea de Portugal

Abstract

Subterranean biodiversity is typically dominated by invertebrates, among which arthropods are the most diverse group of animals. In the vast, inaccessible immensity of subterranean ecosystems, caves provide access to tiny windows for observing the composition and functioning of these habitats. Portugal was considered a country poor in cave diversity, however, the advancement of multidisciplinary research in the last two decades has allowed it to achieve the status of a world-class subterranean biodiversity hotspot. The incomparable diversity of subterranean arthropods that inhabit the caves of the Algarve, made up of species already considered iconic at an international level. This article presents a global perspective on Portugal's subterranean biodiversity, as well as the unique characteristics of Portugal's caves and other subterranean ecosystems.