Integrative taxonomic studies of Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida), with emphasis on the Brazilian and Chilean diversity, and their areas of endemisms in the Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 19/12357-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Jesús Carbayo Baz
• Grantee: Fernando Jesús Carbayo Baz
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Luis Americo Conti ; Marcio Bernardino da Silva ; Marta Riutort León
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/14042-0 - Application of molecular and histological technics in planarian taxonomy studies, BP.TT

Abstract

With over 900 known species, land planarians, or Geoplanidae (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida), are typically forest-floor dwellers. With a low vagility and a high sensitivity to dessication, they are a good model for applied studies. Land planarians recently entered the debate on the recognition of areas of endemism, and the historical causes shaping these areas in the Atlantic forest. In recent years, considerable progress has been made regarding knowledge on the diversity of these organisms. However, evident gaps still exist in this aspect. Alpha-diversity in the group is, at least, two times higher, considering, only, a preliminary examination of ca. 3.900 specimens collected by the author of this project in Brazil (mainly between the estates of Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Sul) and Chile. The monophyly of 16 of the 24 current genera of Geoplaninae is acknowledged. Diagnoses of some genera are ambiguous and deficient, specially of the genera endemic to Chile. A case of non-monophyly pointed out in the literature, which still is unsolved, is that of the so-called clade LIS. This clade includes a monotypic genus, a paraphyletic genus, and a third, polyphyletic genus.This project will contribute to the knowledge of the diversity, systematics and biogeography of Neotropical land planarians by means of (a) the integrative taxonomy of ca. 20 new species, from Brazil and Chile; (b) a taxonomic revision of the clade LIS; and (c) a survey of areas of endemisms in the Atlantic forest. Up-to-date tools for analysis and comparison of morphological and molecular data, from specimens already collected and newly ones to be collected in Bahia and Pernambuco, will be applied. Areas of endemism will be explored in forest areas, ranging from Pernambuco to Rio Grande do Sul. The results will foster a better comprehension of the diversification of Geoplanidae in the Neotropics and the historical causes of their geographic distribution. This project will also contribute to consolidate current collaborations with associated researchers to academic qualification of three graduate students in the field of planarian systematics and endemicity, and two undergraduate students in hisotlogical and molecular techniques. (AU)

Scientific publications

(12)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PRISCILA DONEGÁ JASPER; EUDÓXIA MARIA FROEHLICH; FERNANDO CARBAYO. A study on the etymology of the scientific names given to planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) by Ernest Marcus’ school. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo), v. 61, 2021-02-07. (19/12357-7)

ALMEIDA, ANA LAURA; ALVAREZ-PRESAS, MARTA; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. The discovery of new Chilean taxa revolutionizes the systematics of Geoplaninae Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. N/A, p. 62-pg., 2022-11-07. (19/12357-7)

LAGO-BARCIA, DOMINGO; SILVA, MARCOS SANTOS; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Revision and description of six species of Choeradoplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) with an emendation to the genus. ZOOKEYS, v. N/A, n. 1016, p. 48-pg., 2021-02-11. (19/12357-7)

ALMEIDA, ANA LAURA; FRANCOY, TIAGO MAURICIO; ALVAREZ-PRESAS, MARTA; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Convergent evolution: A new subfamily for bipaliin-like Chilean land planarians (platyhelminthes). ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA, v. 50, n. 4, p. 500-508, JUL 2021. (19/12357-7)

GRAU, JOSE HORACIO; ALMEIDA, ANA LAURA; SLUYS, RONALD; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. A new genus and two new species of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) from Southern Chile. Journal of Natural History, v. 56, n. 13-16, p. 21-pg., 2022-04-18. (19/12357-7)

LAGO-BARCIA, DOMINGO; SILVA, MARCOS SANTOS; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Revision and description of six species of Choeradoplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) with an emendation to the genus. ZOOKEYS, n. 1016, p. 1-48, FEB 11 2021. (19/12357-7)

CARBAYO, FERNANDO; MARIAN, JOSE E. A. R.. Morphology of parenchymally implanted foreign bodies indicates copulatory wounding in a planarian. Journal of Morphology, v. 282, n. 12, OCT 2021. (19/12357-7)

DE OLIVEIRA, KARINE GOBETTI; BOLONHEZI, LAURA BIANCO; ALMEIDA, ANA LAURA; LAGO-BARCIA, DOMINGO; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Three new Neotropical species and a new genus of land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplaninae). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY, v. 705, p. 1-21, AUG 20 2020. (19/12357-7)

GOULART ARAUJO, ANA PAULA; CARBAYO, FERNANDO; RIUTORT, MARTA; ALVAREZ-PRESAS, MARTA. Five new pseudocryptic land planarian species of Cratera (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) unveiled through integrative taxonomy. PeerJ, v. 8, SEP 4 2020. (16/18295-5, 19/12357-7)

SANTOS, CHARLES MORPHY D.; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Taxonomy as a political statement: the Brazilian case. Zootaxa, v. 5047, n. 1, p. 92-94, SEP 28 2021. (19/12357-7, 17/11768-8)

LAGO-BARCIA, DOMINGO; ALVAREZ-PRESAS, MARTA; RIUTORT, MARTA; OCEGUERA-FIGUEROA, ALEJANDRO; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Phylogenetic relationships of the Geoplaninae land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) assessed with a total evidence approach, with the description of a new species of Gigantea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 184, p. 12-pg., 2023-05-02. (19/12357-7)

ALMEIDA, ANA LAURA; ALVAREZ-PRESAS, MARTA; BOLONHEZI, LAURA; CARBAYO, FERNANDO. Integrative taxonomy increases biodiversity knowledge of Gusana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) with the description of four new Chilean species. INVERTEBRATE SYSTEMATICS, v. 36, n. 6, p. 24-pg., 2022-07-18. (19/12357-7)