Track analysis of the Neotropical genus Sepedonea Steyskal (Diptera: Sciomyzidae): a proposal based on the phylogenetic analysis of its species

Abstract

The present study provides a track analysis of the species of Sepedonea, which are exclusively Neotropical and range from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Individual and generalized tracks were obtained using the software ArcView GIS 3.2 from a database of species occurrence records. The results provide support for eastern Brazil as an area of endemism, previously defined as the Parana subregion. There was congruence between this pattern and a phylogenetic analysis of the species. A total of 10 biogeographical nodes and 20 generalized tracks were located in southeastern Brazil, particularly in the region of the Serra do Mar and the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain ranges. The formation of these mountain ranges possibly influenced the evolutionary history of the taxa. The area identified as relevant for the diversification of Sepedonea corroborates the point of view of the Atlantic rainforest as a hotspot for conservation. The biogeographical pattern of the genus was shown to be similar to the previously presented classification of the Neotropical region.

New distribution records for Sciomyzidae (Diptera) from the Pantanal, Brazil

“…The geographical distribution of the species, in conjunction with knowledge of their biology, is very important in reconstructing the history of the evolutionary units as well as the history of the areas. In the biogeographical analyses of Sepedonea and Thecomyia species by Pires et al (2008) and Pires and Marinoni (2011) the importance of sciomyzids in studies of coevolution and biogeography was emphasized because of their close relationship with mollusks and their reduced flight capacity.…”