Abstract

RIVERA-PEREZ, Juan Mateo; LLANO ARIAS, Camilo Andrés  and  GUEVARA, Giovany. Spatial distribution and conservation of freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae) in Caldas, Colombia. Biota colombiana [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.2, e982.  Epub June 22, 2022. ISSN 0124-5376.  https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200x.982.

Freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae) are a group of key invertebrates in the montane ecosystems of Colombia; they participate in the recycling of organic matter, are intermediate links in the trophic chains, and are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances. The few studies in the department of Caldas have focused on morphological and taxonomic aspects, whereas their ecology and natural history are poorly known. Currently, this family is represented in the department by six species. The objective of this study was to establish the patterns of potential distribution of Pseudothelphusidae and promote conservation areas in the western-central region of Colombia. The records from the Entomological Collection of the University of Caldas (CEBUC) and secondary information (metadata) of different bioecological aspects of the voucher specimens were consolidated. 91 georeferences were compiled and 37 new geo-records are reported for the department. Maps on information gaps and potential distribution models of the studied species were generated with the MaxEnt algorithm. A wide distribution was detected in the middle and lower zones in the Magdalena and Cauca rivers, and three convergence nodes were generated for the conservation of the freshwater crab species in Caldas and Colombia.

Keywords : Potential distribution; Georecords; Malacostracans; MaxEnt; Convergence nodes.

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