Survey of bioluminescent organisms from the Ecological Station of Juréia-Itatins: biodiversity, molecular evolution, and environmental bioindicator

• Grant number: 22/09910-9
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Agreement: Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística - Fundação Florestal
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Trabuco do Amaral
• Grantee: Danilo Trabuco do Amaral
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Anderson Garbuglio de Oliveira ; Fernando de Faria Franco ; Isabel Aparecida da Silva Bonatelli ; Simone Policena Rosa
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/21856-5 - Standardization of DNA Extraction Protocols and Marker Amplification for Phylogenetic and Demographic Studies in Coleoptera and Diptera at the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station (EEJI), BP.TT

Abstract

Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and the Atlantic Forest is a refuge and cradle for several species. The Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station (EEJI) displays one of the few remaining forest continuums of this highly threatened formation in the São Paulo state. In addition, the EEJI encompasses different habitats, from rocky shores, beaches, and mangroves to important state river basins, clearly demonstrating its relevance for conservation. Therefore, the survey of the local biodiversity and the understanding of the evolutionary and ecological relationships of the species that occur in the EEJI are fundamental for the adequate maintenance of the unit, its conservation, and the sustainable use of its natural resources. Despite being recognized as one of the main biodiversity hotspots, the Atlantic Forest has still been poorly explored among terrestrial, freshwater, brackish, and mangrove bioluminescent species. Bioluminescence, the emission of cold visible light by living organisms, is one of the most intriguing biological phenomena known. It results from biochemical processes observed in several taxa, from bacteria to vertebrates, and has important biological roles for them, such as defense, prey attraction, and intra- and interspecific communication. Thus, this proposal with an interdisciplinary focus aims to survey the biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic bioluminescent organisms within the limits of the EEJI and to perform phylogenetic and demographic studies on Diptera and Coleoptera. To do so, collections and field observations will be conducted, as well as the use of molecular biology techniques and phylogenetic and demographic analyses. It is expected, with this proposal, to assist the conservation and management plans of the EEJI, as well as to understand better our bioluminescent fauna, and its potential use as environmental bioindicators. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

AMARAL, DANILO T.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO VICTOR M.; MORAES, EVANDRO M.; ZAPPI, DANIELA C.; TAYLOR, NIGEL P.; FRANCO, FERNANDO F.. The potential distribution of Cereus (Cactaceae) species in scenarios of climate crises. JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS, v. 226, p. 10-pg., 2024-11-30. (18/03428-5, 22/09910-9, 20/15161-3)

VIRGENS, GRAZIELA SORIA; OLIVEIRA, JULIA; CARDOSO, MARIA IZADORA OLIVEIRA; TEODORO, JOAO ALFREDO; AMARAL, DANILO T.. BioProtIS: Streamlining protein-ligand interaction pipeline for analysis in genomic and transcriptomic exploration. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR GRAPHICS & MODELLING, v. 128, p. 8-pg., 2024-02-02. (20/16162-3, 23/06458-0, 20/15161-3, 22/09910-9)

AMARAL, DANILO TRABUCO. Exploring Aquaporin Diversity in Elateroidea: Insights From RNA-Seq Data Sets. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, v. 117, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2024-09-01. (22/09910-9)

AMARAL, DANILO T.; BONATELLI, ISABEL A. S.; ROMEIRO-BRITO, MONIQUE; TELHE, MILENA C.; MORAES, EVANDRO M.; ZAPPI, DANIELA CRISTINA; TAYLOR, NIGEL PAUL; FRANCO, FERNANDO F.. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals lineage- and environment-specific adaptations in cacti from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. PLANTA, v. 260, n. 1, p. 16-pg., 2024-07-01. (18/06937-8, 19/11233-2, 22/09910-9, 20/15161-3, 18/03428-5)