Evolutionary mechanisms that shape diversity and distribution in a tropical biodiversity hotspot

• Grant number: 21/03868-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Agreement: Czech Science Foundation (GACR)
• Principal Investigator: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Grantee: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Principal researcher abroad: Pavel Matos-Maravi
• Institution abroad: Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Czech Republic
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Campinas
• Associated researchers: Karina Lucas da Silva-Brandão ; Mario Alejandro Marín Uribe ; Niklas Wahlberg ; Renato Rogner Ramos ; Simeão de Souza Moraes
• Associated research grant(s): 23/01459-9 - The role of endosymbionts in the diversification of Brazilian Atlantic Forest butterflies, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/03030-0 - Evolutionary mechanisms that shape diversity and distribution in a tropical biodiversity hotspot - - Bolsa TT3-1, BP.TT; 22/13939-2 - Evolutionary mechanisms that shape diversity and distribution in a tropical biodiversity hotspot, BP.TT

Abstract

We aim at better understanding the determinants of species diversity and endemism patterns in a shrinking biodiversity hotspot: the Atlantic Forest. We focus on the Lepidoptera to quantify the extent and magnitude of dispersal, adaptation, speciation, and anthropogenic factors in shaping current species and genetic diversity. We will estimate comprehensive phylogenomic trees and compile large datasets of geo-referenced species occurrences, to estimate the contribution of species traits and the environment to distributional ranges. We will also infer dispersal and diversification dynamics to evaluate the tempo and mode of diversity and endemism accumulation. Finally, we will use in-depth genomic data of six parapatric species to identify population processes acting during differentiation along elevational gradients. Altogether, this project will elucidate how species and their genomes respond to environmental changes in a unified framework, offering novel perspectives on how genomics and big-data analyses can enhance our understanding of drivers shaping biodiversity patterns. (AU)

Scientific publications

(38)

(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)

FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE BATISTA; KAMINSKI, LUCAS AUGUSTO; SILVA-BRANDAO, KARINA LUCAS. Systematic Position, Immature Stages, and Geographic Distribution of Glennia pylotis (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea: Pieridae). Neotropical Entomology, v. 52, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2023-05-17. (21/03868-8)

MORAES, SIMEAO S.; SODERHOLM, MAX S.; AGUIAR, TAMARA M. C.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; SIHVONEN, PASI. Micro-CT imaging in species description: exploring beyond sclerotized structures in lichen moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini). PeerJ, v. 11, p. 23-pg., 2023-07-14. (15/17047-5, 16/20196-5, 21/03868-8)

ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE BATISTA; BARBOSA, EDUARDO DE PROENCA; MACHADO, PATRICIA AVELINO; SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI. Dasyophthalma (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): systematics, distribution, and conservation perspectives of a butterfly genus endemic from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. ARTHROPOD SYSTEMATICS & PHYLOGENY, v. 81, p. 19-pg., 2023-05-23. (21/13396-6, 18/21432-0, 21/03868-8, 13/50297-0, 16/15873-8, 20/09595-0, 12/03750-8)

NAKAHARA, SHINICHI; KLECKNER, KAYLIN; BARBOSA, EDUARDO P.; LOURENCO, GISELLE M.; CASAGRANDE, MIRNA M.; WILLMOTT, KEITH R.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. Reassessment of the type locality of Euptychia stigmatica Godman, 1905, with the description of two new sibling species from Amazonia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Satyrini). ZOOKEYS, v. N/A, n. 1167, p. 32-pg., 2023-06-14. (16/15873-8, 13/50297-0, 18/21432-0, 21/03868-8)

SHIRAI, LEILA T.; SILVA, RENATO O.; DIAS, FERNANDO M. S.; ROCHELLE, ANDRE L. C.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. The butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) of the Parque Estadual Intervales and surroundings, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Biota Neotropica, v. 23, n. 2, p. 22-pg., 2023-01-01. (14/23504-7, 21/03868-8)

ROSA, AUGUSTO H. B.; RIBEIRO, D. B.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. How data curation and new geographical records can change the conservation status of threatened brazilian butterflies. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 27, n. 3, p. 12-pg., 2023-02-18. (11/50225-3, 13/50297-0, 21/03868-8)

FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; WINHARD, WALTER; BROWN JR, KEITH S.. A new subspecies of Eueides tales (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) from the mouth of. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, v. 69, n. 2, p. 4-pg., 2025-01-01. (21/03868-8)

ROSSER, NEIL; SEIXAS, FERNANDO; QUESTE, LUCIE M.; CAMA, BRUNA; MORI-PEZO, RONALD; KRYVOKHYZHA, DMYTRO; NELSON, MICHAELA; WAITE-HUDSON, RACHEL; GORINGE, MATT; COSTA, MAURO; et al. Hybrid speciation driven by multilocus introgression of ecological traits. Nature, v. 628, n. 8009, p. 24-pg., 2024-04-17. (21/03868-8)

BATISTA ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE; BRAGA, LAURA; SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; MAGNAGO, GUSTAVO RODRIGUES; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR. Distribution expansion of Petroceruscatiena (Hewitson, 1875) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) and description of the previously unknown female. JOURNAL OF INSECT BIODIVERSITY, v. 44, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2023-12-22. (13/50297-0, 11/50225-3, 21/03868-8, 20/09595-0)

BARBOSA, EDUARDO P.; SIEWERT, RICARDO R.; MARIN, MARIO A.; MACHADO, PATRICIA A.; OLIVEIRA, ISABELA F.; FILHO, JOSE A. C.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. Description of a new genus and species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 62, n. 3, p. 13-pg., 2023-08-01. (13/50297-0, 18/21432-0, 20/09595-0, 11/50225-3, 16/15873-8, 18/11910-1, 21/13396-6, 21/03868-8)

ROSA, AUGUSTO H. B.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. The importance of protected areas for threatened Brazilian butterflies. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 96, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2024-01-01. (21/03868-8)

AGUIAR, TAMARA M. C.; GUERATTO, PATRICIA E.; MACHADO, PATRICIA A.; SANTOS, JESSIE P.; CARREIRA, JUNIA Y. O.; MORAES, SIMEAO S.; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI. Immature Stages, Natural History and Population Biology of Opoptera syme (Hubner, 1821), (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Entomology, v. 53, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2023-10-25. (16/20196-5, 21/03868-8, 15/17047-5)

MAGALDI, LUIZA DE MORAES; GUERATTO, PATRICIA EYNG; ORTEGA-ABBOUD, ENRIQUE; SOBRAL-SOUZA, THADEU; JORON, MATHIEU; DE SOUZA, ANETE PEREIRA; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; SILVA-BRANDAO, KARINA LUCAS. Montane diversification as a mechanism of speciation in neotropical butterflies. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 14, n. 7, p. 25-pg., 2024-07-01. (18/11591-3, 13/10491-1, 12/16266-7, 23/01459-9, 21/07494-5, 15/24663-4, 18/19171-3, 21/03868-8, 23/10376-0)

SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; MURARI, LEONARDO; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR. PANOQUINA LUCAS (FABRICIUS, 1793) (HESPERIIDAE) MOISTENING A DRY BIRD DROPPING FOR FEEDING. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 77, n. 4, p. 2-pg., 2023-12-01. (21/03868-8, 20/09595-0)

MOTA, LUISA L.; MACHADO, PATRICIA AVELINO; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; SERAPHIM, NOEMY. About Bamboo, Ants, Scales and a Strange New Butterfly: Four-Level Interactions and the Evolution of Complex Life-History Traits in Annulata (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Neotropical Entomology, v. 54, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2025-07-10. (12/50260-6, 21/03868-8, 21/13396-6, 11/50225-3)

ROSA, AUGUSTO H. B.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. The role of citizens in conservation science: a case study with threatened Brazilian butterflies. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 28, n. 6, p. 12-pg., 2024-07-17. (21/03868-8)

OLIVIERI, GABRIEL; MACHADO, PATRICIA AVELINO; DE BRITO, MARIANA MONTEIRO; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; ARAB, ALBERTO; SILVA-BRANDAO, KARINA LUCAS. GENETIC DIVERSITY OF PARYPHTHIMOIDES POLTYS (NYMPHALIDAE: SATYRINAE: EUPTYCHIINA) IN A FRAGMENTED AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 76, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2022-11-28. (21/03868-8)

SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; BATISTA ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE; LAMAS, GERARDO; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR. Lost and Found: Taxonomic Notes on Some Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) from JF Zikan found on F. Dissmann's Collection. Neotropical Entomology, v. 52, n. 1, p. 4-pg., 2022-12-02. (21/03868-8, 20/09595-0)

STADOAN, LUCA BERNARDIN; LAMAS, GERARDO; WILLMOTT, KEITH R.; CASTRO-PALMER, ANDRES; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI. A NEW RECORD OF THE RARE BUTTERFLY DOXOCOPA LINDA CARWA LAMAS, 1999 (NYMPHALIDAE: APATURINAE) FROM PERU. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 79, n. 3, p. 3-pg., 2025-09-01. (23/12675-4, 21/03868-8)

ANDRÉ VICTOR LUCCI FREITAS; RICARDO RUSSO SIEWERT; AUGUSTO HENRIQUE BATISTA ROSA; SIMEÃO SOUZA MORAES; THIAGO DE OLIVEIRA; OLAF HERMANN HENDRIK MIELKE; KEITH SPALDING BROWN JR. Borboletas e mariposas (Lepidoptera) da Ilha do Cardoso, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Hoehnea, v. 51, 2024-11-15. (20/09595-0, 23/13856-2, 13/50297-0, 21/03868-8, 21/02524-3)

ROSA, AUGUSTO H. B.; BARBOSA, EDUARDO P.; WAHLBERG, NIKLAS; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. SYSTEMATIC POSITION AND CONSERVATION ASPECTS OF MELINAEA MNASIAS THERA (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE: DANAINAE). NATURE CONSERVATION RESEARCH, v. 9, n. 1, p. 8-pg., 2024-01-01. (16/15873-8, 21/03868-8, 18/21432-0)

ESPELAND, MARIANNE; NAKAHARA, SHINICHI; ZACCA, THAMARA; BARBOSA, EDUARDO P.; HUERTAS, BLANCA; MARIN, MARIO A.; LAMAS, GERARDO; BENMESBAH, MOHAMED; BREVIGNON, CHRISTIAN; CASAGRANDE, MIRNA M.; et al. Combining target enrichment and Sanger sequencing data to clarify the systematics of the diverse Neotropical butterfly subtribe Euptychiina (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Systematic Entomology, v. 48, n. 4, p. 73-pg., 2023-04-10. (17/02264-6, 18/21432-0, 21/03868-8, 11/50225-3, 13/50297-0, 16/15873-8, 19/14735-9, 12/50260-6, 14/16481-0)

CARA, MARIA ANGELES RODRIGUEZ DE; JAY, PAUL; ROUGEMONT, QUENTIN; CHOUTEAU, MATHIEU; WHIBLEY, ANNABEL; HUBER, BARBARA; PIRON-PRUNIER, FLORENCE; RAMOS, RENATO ROGNER; SALAZAR, CAMILO; TORRES, TATIANA TEIXEIRA; et al. Balancing selection at a wing pattern locus is associated with major shifts in genome-wide patterns of diversity and gene flow. PEER COMMUNITY JOURNAL, v. 3, p. 18-pg., 2023-01-01. (13/50297-0, 11/50225-3, 21/03868-8, 12/16266-7)

ARBOSA, EDUARDO P.; ZACCA, THAMARA; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. PLACEMENT OF AGOJIE RUPICOLA ZACCA, 2023 IN THE EUPTYCHIINA (NYMPHALIDAE: SATYRINAE: SATYRINI) PHYLOGENETIC TREE. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 78, n. 4, p. 4-pg., 2024-12-01. (18/21432-0, 13/50297-0, 16/15873-8, 21/03868-8, 11/50225-3)

FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; KAMINSKI, LUCAS AUGUSTO; MAGALDI, LUIZA MORAES; GUERATTO, PATRICIA EYNG; SILVA-BRANDAO, KARINA LUCAS; FRANCINI, RONALDO BASTOS; PALUCH, MARLON; TAVARES, EDUARDO VASCONCELOS; MELO, ANA BEATRIZ DE MEDEIROS. A New Actinote Hübner (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Acraeini) from Northeastern Brazil. Neotropical Entomology, v. 54, n. 1, p. 10-pg., 2025-10-16. (13/50297-0, 21/03868-8, 23/10376-0, 23/01459-9, 11/50225-3)

CARREIRA, JUNIA Y. O.; BROWN JR., KEITH S.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. Species List and Temporal Trends of a Butterfly Community in an Urban Remnant in the Atlantic Forest. DIVERSITY-BASEL, v. 17, n. 9, p. 35-pg., 2025-08-28. (21/03868-8, 11/50225-3)

FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; VASCONCELLOS-NETO, JOAO. POPULATION BIOLOGY OF MCCLUNGIA CYMO SALONINA (NYMPHALIDAE: ITHOMIINI). JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 78, n. 3, p. 8-pg., 2024-09-01. (21/03868-8)

VIEIRA-SILVA, ALINE; EVORA, GABRIEL B.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. The Relevance of Flash Coloration Against Avian Predation in a Morpho Butterfly: A Field Experiment in a Tropical Rainforest. Ethology, v. 130, n. 12, p. 9-pg., 2024-10-24. (20/06756-3, 17/16645-1, 22/06529-2, 21/03868-8)

MORAES, S. I. M. E. A. O. D. E. S. O. U. Z. A.; GUERATTO, P. A. T. R. I. C. I. A. E. Y. N. G.; DOS SANTOS, J. E. S. S. I. E. P. E. R. E. I. R. A.; SANTOS, M. A. T. E. U. S. H. E. N. R. I. Q. U. E.; FREITAS, A. N. D. R. E. V. I. C. T. O. R. L. U. C. C. I.; DUARTE, M. A. R. C. E. L. O.. Niche modelling and comparative morphology untangle taxonomy of the Dysschema eurocilia Glade (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and reveal a relictual Pleistocene Arc distribution. SYSTEMATICS AND BIODIVERSITY, v. 20, n. 1, p. 39-pg., 2022-12-31. (12/18311-0, 18/19171-3, 21/03868-8, 16/20196-5, 09/11161-0, 15/17047-5, 11/50225-3)

ROSA, AUGUSTO H. B.; SERAPHIM, NOEMY; MACHADO, PATRICIA A.; GUERATTO, PATRICIA E.; SOBRAL-SOUZA, THADEU; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. Eucorna sanarita (Schaus) (Riodinidae: Riodininae): Distribution, systematic position, and conservation of a threatened brazilian butterfly in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 27, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2022-11-09. (18/19171-3, 13/50297-0, 21/03868-8)

MACHADO, P. A.; GUERATTO, P. E.; MORAES, S. S.; NASCIMENTO, A. R.; KATO, M. J.; FREITAS, A. V. L.. TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF EOIS IMMATURES (LEPIDOPTERA, GEOMETRIDAE) IN A TROPICAL FOREST. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 76, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2022-11-28. (18/19171-3, 14/50316-7, 11/50225-3, 16/20196-5, 15/17047-5, 15/17046-9, 21/03868-8)

NOLL, FERNANDO B.; BARBOSA, MARINA F. DE C.; SANTOS, EDUARDO F.; CASTILHO, RAPHAEL DE C.; LAMAS, CARLOS J. E.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; DE MORAES, GILBERTO J.. The contribution of the BIOTA/FAPESP Program to the advancement of the knowledge on terrestrial invertebrates. Biota Neotropica, v. 22, p. 12-pg., 2022-01-01. (20/06632-2, 19/09215-6, 17/12004-1, 20/07895-7, 21/03868-8)

FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; BREVIGNON, CHRISTIAN; SILVA-BRANDAO, KARINA LUCAS. Disentangling the Taxonomy of Parides burchellanus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and Related Taxa. Neotropical Entomology, v. 54, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2025-02-13. (21/03868-8)

ALVAREZ, YOSIEL; NUNEZ, RAYNER; MAGALDI, LUIZA DE MORAES; MATTHEWS, DEBORAH; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; ESPELAND, MARIANNE. Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa, v. 5686, n. 1, p. 44-pg., 2025-08-26. (21/03868-8, 23/10376-0)

SILVA, DENISE B.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.; JUNIOR, OSCAR F.; SANTOS, JESSIE P.. Vertical Stratification of Butterfly Assemblages Persists in Highly Disturbed Forest Fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. DIVERSITY-BASEL, v. 16, n. 10, p. 12-pg., 2024-10-01. (21/03868-8)

SANTOS, JESSIE PEREIRA; CARREIRA, JUNIA YASMIN OLIVEIRA; UEHARA-PRADO, MARCIO; DUARTE, LEANDRO; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI. Outer bounds: Forest edges emulate vertical strata as a habitat filter for butterfly assemblages. Insect Conservation and Diversity, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2025-06-16. (11/50225-3, 21/03868-8)

DUTRA, HUMBERTO PAULA; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR. POPULATION BIOLOGY OF THREE SATYRINE SPECIES (NYMPHALIDAE: SATYRINAE) IN A SUBURBAN HABITAT. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 78, n. 1, p. 16-pg., 2024-03-01. (11/50225-3, 21/03868-8)

ALVAREZ, CARLOS FEDERICO; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI; ISERHARD, CRISTIANO AGRA; GIRALDO, CARLOS EDUARDO; URIBE, SANDRA INES; MARIN, MARIO ALEJANDRO. Structure of the assemblage of fruit-feeding butterflies in a high Andean anthropogenic landscape. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 28, n. 4, p. 12-pg., 2024-06-16. (11/50225-3, 21/03868-8, 18/11910-1)