What does the Southern Brazilian Coastal Plain tell about its diversity? Syrphidae (Diptera) as a model

Abstract

The natural areas of the Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul (CPRS) have suffered fragmentation due to anthropic action. The faunal surveys offer a low-cost method to quickly evaluate environmental alterations, and Syrphidae flies are often used as models in this kind of study. We aimed to ascertain the diversity of Syrphidae in the South region of Brazil by estimating its species' richness, and to use this data to identify new areas for conservation. In this survey Malaise traps were installed for 8 days in the CPRS, which was divided into five regions. Each region was subdivided into seven collecting areas and each of those areas received four traps, totaling 140 traps. A total of 456 Syrphidae individuals from 18 genera and 49 species were collected. In Region 1, there were nine exclusive species; in Region 2, there were three; in Region 3, there were 13, ten of which came from Estação Ecológica do Taim (ESEC Taim). In the Individual-based rarefaction analysis, Region 1 possessed the largest number of expected species out of the regions in the CPRS; we found 97% of these species. This insect collection effort, as one of the first in the CPRS, has broadened the known geographic distributions of 11 species of Syrphidae, and also indicated areas to be conserved. Additionally, it gave support for expanding ESEC Taim and creating new areas of conservation in Region 1, in Arroio Pelotas and Arroio Corrientes.

Species composition and abundance of free-living turbellarians in three different wetlands in Southern Brazil

“…Southern Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot (Guadagnin 1999), presenting an extent mosaic of flooded areas (about 37,300 km 2 ) (Schwarzbolt & Schäfer 1984). This coastal ecosystem harbors high abundance and diversity of fauna (Artioli et al 2009, Garcias & Bager 2009, Stenert et al 2012, Moreira et al 2014, Kirst et al 2017) and aquatic vegetation (Maltchik et al 2004, Rolon et al 2010) as a function of the heterogenic geography (Vieira & Rangel 1983) and seasonal hydrographic modifications (Vieira & Rangel 1988). Hence, the complexity of environmental factors (especially aquatic rooted and floating vegetation) in these temporally or permanently flooded areas of southern Brazil potentially represents an adequate habitat for turbellarians.…”