Drosophilids (Insecta, Diptera) of the Paranã Valley: eight new records for the Cerrado biome

Abstract

Abstract:The Paranã Valley, located in the Central Brazil Plateau, within the domain of the Cerrado biome, is frequently cited as a center of endemism and diversity. Nonetheless, this region is poorly known, mainly considering its invertebrate fauna. Here, drosophilid flies were used as biological tools to contribute to a broader inventory, whose goals were mapping the Cerrado biodiversity and identifying areas to be conserved. Three previously unsampled areas in the Paranã Valley were sampled. Amongst the 12,297 specimens collected 45 species were identified, which represents 50% of the drosophilid species previously recorded in the Cerrado. Moreover, this sampling presented eight new occurrences for the biome (Drosophila annulosa, D. calloptera, D. papei, D. neomorpha, D. roehrae, Gitona bivisualis, Rhinoleucophenga lopesi, and the genus Diathoneura) and three species that had only one record for the biome, or that were recorded only in a specific area. Therefore, this study confirms the importance of the Paranã Valley as a center of biodiversity in the Cerrado biome, and recommends the establishment of conservation units in this region. Resumo: O Vale do Paranã localiza-se no Brasil Central, no domínio do bioma Cerrado, e é freqüentemente citado como um centro de diversidade e endemismo. Entretanto, essa região ainda é pouco conhecida, principalmente no que se refere à fauna de invertebrados. Este estudo apresenta a fauna de drosofilídeos de três áreas nunca avaliadas anteriormente no Vale do Paranã, visando contribuir para um inventário mais amplo, cujos objetivos foram mapear a biodiversidade da região e identificar áreas para serem preservadas. Dentre os 12.297 espécimes coletados foram identificadas 45 espécies, correspondendo a 50% dos drosofilídeos previamente registrados no Cerrado. Além disso, este trabalho acrescentou oito novas ocorrências para o Cerrado (Drosophila annulosa, D. calloptera, D. papei, D. neomorpha, D. roehrae, Gitona bivisualis, Rhinoleucophenga lopesi e o gênero Diathoneura) e três outras espécies com apenas uma única ocorrência para o Cerrado, ou registradas em apenas uma área específica do bioma. Nesse contexto, este estudo confirma a importância do Vale do Paranã como um centro de biodiversidade do Cerrado, e recomenda o estabelecimento de unidades de conservação nessa região. Palavras-chave: biodiversidade, Planalto Central do Brasil, conservação, Drosophila, inventário, savana brasileira.

Drosophilids (Insecta, Diptera) as Tools for Conservation Biology

“…The richness of drosophilids in Paranã Valley revealed forty-five species, representing 37.5% of the species recorded in the Cerrado, and eight new occurrences for the biome (Mata et al 2008a). The Paranã Valley was pointed as a region presenting high conservation value because of its elevated species richness of several taxa, singularity in species composition, and threat level (Cavalcanti 1999).…”

“…Regular drosophilid inventories in the Cerrado began only at the final years of the 1990's, and currently there are 120 drosophilid species known in the biome, 110 of them endemic to the Neotropical region (Blauth & Gottschalk 2007;Mata et al 2008a;Chaves & Tidon 2008;Roque 2006). The richness of drosophilids in Paranã Valley revealed forty-five species, representing 37.5% of the species recorded in the Cerrado, and eight new occurrences for the biome (Mata et al 2008a).…”

“…The collected species were identified by identification keys, species description and, in some cases, male terminalia analysis. Details of each sampling designs and methods are described in supplementary material and showed in Table 1 (see also Mata et al 2008a;Tidon 2006). Sample-based rarefaction curves for all drosophilids were compiled separately for the three sampling areas in Paranã Valley to access sample representivity (Jackknife 1; EstimateS 7.5; Colwell 2005).…”

Drosophilids (Diptera) from an Atlantic Forest Area in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil

“…Compared to other Brazilian biomes, the higher geomorphologic, vegetational and climatic heterogeneity along its whole extension seems to lead to this picture, though there is a larger number of studies in the Atlantic forest. In the whole biome Cerrado (and its related associated ecosystems, including urban), for instance, only 98 species of Drosophilidae were registered (Mata et al 2008). …”

Seasonal dynamics of a drosophilid (Diptera) assemblage and its potencial as bioindicator in open environments

“…The richness of this genus, though, is still poorly known, especially in the Neotropical region, where MEDEIROS & KLAZCKO (2004) and DÖGE et al (2008) estimated that nearly 40% of the brazilian Drosophila species are still undescribed. Even the geographical distribution of many species is still not well established (DÖGE et al, 2006(DÖGE et al, , 2007MATA et al, 2008a).…”