Luciane Marinoni

DNA barcoding and traditional taxonomy unified through Integrative Taxonomy: a view that challenges the debate questioning both methodologies

A crise taxonomica, em destaque nos ultimos anos, e marcada pela falta de popularidade (desinteresse pela formacao taxonomica) e incentivos financeiros direcionados ao estudo da biodiversidade. Esta situacao somada as questoes envolvidas com a necessidade de se conhecer as inumeras especies ainda desconhecidas tem feito com que novas tecnologias, dentre elas o uso do DNA, tenham surgido como propostas para revitalizacao da taxonomia. Uma parte da comunidade cientifica, entretanto, tem rejeitado o uso dessas ideias inovadoras. O DNA barcoding, principalmente, tem sido alvo de inumeras criticas quanto a sua aplicacao em contraposicao ao uso da morfologia. O presente artigo visa destacar a inconsistencia do debate DNA versus morfologia, pela existencia de uma proposta que corresponde a uniao entre a taxonomia tradicional e o DNA barcoding - a taxonomia integrativa. Os pontos favoraveis e desfavoraveis dessa proposta serao discutidos assim como a sua validade e aplicacao. Com ela, a importância da morfologia e reconhecida e ao mesmo tempo tem-se a revitalizacao da taxonomia tradicional pela aderencia das tecnologias incitadas para transposicao do impedimento taxonomico.

Abundância e riqueza de espécies de Syrphidae (Diptera) em áreas de borda e interior de floresta no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brasil

To characterize the local insect fauna, samples were obtained weekly from September/1999 to August/2000 through Malaise traps installed at the edge and inside the forest. A temporal analysis of Syrphidae species collected approximately 17 years ago at the same local, inside the forest, was made. Also, the abundance and species richness between the areas were analyzed. The syrphids were more abundant at the edge of the forest than in the interior, and the number of species as well. Comparing the current data with the data obtained in 1986/1987, a decrease in the local abundance and species richness was registered. The most abundant species at the edge was Allograpta neotropica Curran, 1936, and inside the forest (1999/2000) was Ocyptamus sativus (Curran, 1941). The specimens of Toxomerus Macquart, 1855 were the most abundant in the trap located at the forest edge, and those of Ocyptamus Macquart, 1834 in the forest interior. Ninety-five species were identified in 22 genera. Ocyptamus was the genus with the highest species richness (23). In the sequence were Copestylum Macquart, 1846 (15), Toxomerus (15) and Microdon Meigen, 1803 (10). Seven species were common among the three samples: Allograpta neotropica, Copestylum selectum (Curran, 1939); Leucopodella gracilis (Williston, 1891); Mixogaster polistes Hull, 1954; Ocyptamus funebris Macquart, 1834; Toxomerus procrastinatus Metz, 2001 and Toxomerus tibicen (Wiedemann, 1830). Three new species of Microdon, one of Toxomerus, one of Aristosyrphus Curran, 1941, and one of Myolepta Newman, 1838 were identified.

Historical relationships among Neotropical endemic areas based on Sepedonea (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) phylogenetic and distribution data

The present study used the previously defined relationships among the snail-killing species of Sepedonea as the starting point for a cladistic biogeography analysis of endemic areas in the Neotropical region. The goal of the study was to use two different data sets to test the possible monophyly of two important biomes in the region: the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest. The possible historical significance of the arid biomes was also investigated. The study used Brooks Parsimony Analysis (Primary BPA). The area groups were based on previous biogeographical classifications of the Neotropial region. The analyses showed Amazonia to be non-monophyletic whereas the Atlantic forest was found to be a natural unit. The importance of including dry areas in the analyses, was highlighted by Sepedonea individuals that probably inhabit enclaves of humid forest present in the area. In general, the results indicate incongruence with the prior pattern of area relationships. In fact, one single history of the current distribution of organisms in the region is unlikely. This situation has been supported by several studies proposing incongruent hypotheses of historical relationships between endemic areas of the region.

Chave de identificação ilustrada para os gêneros de Syrphinae (Diptera, Syrphidae) de ocorrência no sul do Brasil

Marinoni, L., Morales, M.N. & Spaler, I. Illustrated key for the genera of Syrphinae (Diptera, Syrphidae) of occurrence in the South of Brazil. Biota Neotrop. Jan/Apr 2007 vol. 7, no. 1 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n1/pt/abstract?identification-key+bn03007012007 ISSN 1676-0603. Despite of the richness and abundance of the Syrphidae in the Neotropical Region, the bibliography about the family for this area is relatively scarce. Identification of specimens belonging to this family and, more specifically for those of the subfamily Syrphinae, becomes difficult because of the great variation between the species of a single genus. With the purpose in assisting specialists and non-specialists in identifying the genera of Syrphidae a pictorial key for the subfamilies Eristalinae, Microdontinae and Syrphinae and for the Syrphinae genera occurring in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana, Southern Brazil was prepared. Species of eleven genera have been recorded for the region: Allograpta Osten Sacken, Argentinomyia Lynch Arribalzaga, Leucopodella

Cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision of the scutellaris group of Palpada Macquart (Diptera : Syrphidae)

Palpada Macquart, 1834 is a large genus of tropical Eristaliini flies with distribution restricted to the New World (Diptera : Syrphidae : Eristalinae). Most species were initially placed within Eristalis Latreille, 1804. In 1972, most Neotropical species were transferred to Palpada when F.C. Thompson divided Eristalis sensu lato into three genera: Eristalis, Eoseristalis Kanervo, 1938 and Palpada. The latter genus was divided by Thompson (1981) into three groups of species: scutellaris, agrorum and vinetorum. In the present study, the species of the scutellaris group are revised and the phylogenetic relationships among its species are reconstructed based on adult morphology. The cladistic analysis of the 24 terminal species and 48 characters of external morphology and male and female genitalia, produced one cladogram under equal weights. The monophyly of the scutellaris group was corroborated. Twelve species are recognised within the group, of which one is described as new: Palpada cordiformis Morales, sp. nov., P. claudia (Curran), P. conica (Fabricius), P. doris (Curran), P. erratica (Curran), P. fuliginosa (Hull), P. megafemur Thompson, P. melanaspis (Wiedemann), P. precipua (Williston), P. rufoscutellata (Sack), P. scutellaris (Fabricius) and P. vera (Hull). Two new synonymies are proposed: P. dorothea (Hull, 1942) = P. melanaspis (Wiedemann, 1830); and P. glabella (Hull, 1942) = P. fuliginosa (Hull, 1935). The lectotype is designated for Eristalis melanaspis. An identification key, a catalogue, distribution maps, illustrations of general aspects, illustrations of male and female genitalia and scanning electron micrographs are provided.

Diversidade de Syrphidae (Diptera) em cinco áreas com situações florísticas distintas no Parque Estadual Vila Velha em Ponta Grossa, Paraná

The syrphids were surveyed in five floristically different areas within Vila Velha State Park in east central Parana, Ponta Grossa, southern Brazil. Areas were classified as edge, araucaria, early (phase 1), middle (phase 2) and late (phase 3) vegetational succession, in which Malaise traps were used, with weekly collections (from September/1999 to August/2000). Nearly 300,000 Diptera were collected, in order of abundance in Araucaria area (n=74,331 individuals, 25% of the total), early (73,782; 25%), late (59,339; 20%), middle (53,623; 18%) and edge (38,796; 13%). A total of 1,345 syrphids, including 97 species, were identified. The greatest abundance and richness were both observed in the edge (n=684 specimens in 54 species), followed by early (n=250; 51), Araucaria (n=162; 34), late (n=146; 31) and middle succession area (n=103; 27). Syrphidae abundance was uncorrelated with Diptera abundance in the five areas. Syrphidae was greatest in the edge, while greatest abundance of Diptera was in the Araucaria and the least was in the edge area. Syrphinae (82% of all Syrphidae collected), Microdontinae and Eristalinae were collected in the five areas. In the three successional stages areas (early, middle and late), Syrphinae was greatest in early, and more or less equally low in middle and late. The greatest abundance and richness occurred in most anthropogenically disturbed areas (edge and early), while the least occurred in the best preserved areas (middle and late succession). Cluster analysis showed that the two later successional stages were most similar, and the edge was the least similar to all the other areas.

Open and Disturbed Habitats Support Higher Diversity of Syrphidae (Diptera)? A Case Study During Three Yr of Sampling in a Fragment of Araucaria Forest in Southern Brazil

Abstract The diversity of hoverflies in five different habitats of the Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná , Brazil, from September 1999 to August 2002 was studied. These five areas had been exposed to various types of anthropogenic disturbance at different times, which resulted in different stages of plant succession. In total, 2,841 specimens of 151 species of Syrphidae were collected using malaise traps. The highest species richness and abundance were found at the edge of the forest (Forest Edge), whereas the lowest was found in the most conserved areas. Evenness values increased along the succession gradient. The accumulation curve of new occurrences of syrphid species nearly approached an asymptote starting on the third month of the third year. Estimates of syrphid species richness using different methods indicated that between 155 and 288 species are found in the study area, according the Michaelis–Menten and the Chao2 estimators, respectively. The richness and abundance of representatives of the subfamily Syrphinae were higher in more open areas, where herbaceous plants predominate. Nineteen hoverfly species can be considered as environmental indicators, as they were collected exclusively or mainly in one of the defined habitat types. The degree of opening of the vegetation seems to be the factor determining the distribution of Syrphidae species, a conclusion based on the finding that grassy clearings in Araucaria Forests had more species. Hence, we conclude that, to become established, Syrphidae communities need conserved mosaic landscapes.

Descrição das fêmeas de Chimarra (Curgia) brasiliana (Ulmer) e Chimarra (Curgia) ypsilon Flint (Insecta, Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) do Estado do Paraná, Brasil

Mating couples of two species of the genus Chimarra Stephens, C. (Curgia) brasiliana (Ulmer, 1905) and C. (Curgia) ypsilon Flint, 1983, were collected with light trap at Parana State, Brazil. The females are described and illustrations of the genitalia are presented.

Revision of the shore-fly genus Peltopsilopa Hendel (Diptera: Ephydridae)

The Neotropical shore-fly genus Peltopsilopa Hendel is revised and now includes three species: P. acuta n.sp.; P. anisotomoides (Karsch), new combination; and P. schwarzi Cresson. A fourth species name, P. aspistes Hendel, is recognized as a junior synonym of P. anisotomoides (Karsch). We confirm that Peltopsilopa is closely related to Cressonomyia Arnaud and that the genus is in the tribe Psilopini, subfamily Discomyzinae. We provide a revised generic diagnosis and key to South American genera of Psilopini to facilitate identification of Peltopsilopa. The included species descriptions are extensively documented with illustrations, photographs, and distribution map.

Steyskalina picta, new genus and species of Tetanocerini (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) from the Oriental Region

A new genus, Steyskalina Knutson, is erected for S. picta Ghorpade & Marinoni, an undescribed species of the Sciomyzidae, Tetanocerini, discovered from Burma and the neighbouring Yunnan Province of China. The habitus and male terminalia are illustrated. Comments about the affinities of the genus within the Tetanocerini are also included.