Phylogeography and populational genetic structure of spiders species (Arachnida, Araneae)

• Grant number: 12/02526-7
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2012 - June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal researcher: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Grantee: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In South America there are two important rain forests, the Amazon and the Atlantic forest, separated by a zone of open vegetation, which has been considered a restriction for species migrations. However, as vegetation maps show some connections between these forests and probably they were continuous in the past, interesting phylogeographic patterns can be found for species found in the two areas. Paleontological as well as geomorphological studies suggest that the two biomes were separated with the climate changes of the Pleistocene. Recently, some findings have supported this hypothesis, although studies are still scarce in Brazil and only a few taxa have been already investigated. This project aims to study the population structure and phylogeography of Araneus venatrix, three species of Aglaoctenus and Nephila clavipes and using sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and amplification of microsatellites. These species are found in the Amazon and in the Atlantic Forest, being suitable for such for evolutionary studies. We will compare the patterns of variability and structure of the species and of the habitats, and discuss possible evolutionary processes acting on the historical geographic distribution of these spiders. It is intended to do phylogeographic studies of different species to contribute for the understanding of general processes that shaped the current distribution of species and communities in Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(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)

FIORINI, CECILIA F.; PERES, ELEN ARROYO; DA SILVA, MARCIO JOSE; ARAUJO, ANDREA ONOFRE; BORBA, EDUARDO LEITE; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Phylogeography of the specialist plant Mandirola hirsuta (Gesneriaceae) suggests ancient habitat fragmentation due to savanna expansion. FLORA, v. 262, JAN 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

SALGADO-ROA, FABIAN C.; PARDO-DIAZ, CAROLINA; LASSO, ELOISA; ARIAS, CARLOS F.; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA; SALAZAR, CAMILO. Gene flow and Andean uplift shape the diversification of Gasteracantha cancriformis (Araneae: Araneidae) in Northern South America. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 8, n. 14, p. 7131-7142, JUL 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.

DE MACEDO BARTOLETI, LUIZ FILIPE; PERES, ELEN ARROYO; SOBRAL-SOUZA, THADEU; MASCARENHAS FONTES, FERNANDA VON HERTWIG; DA SILVA, MARCIO JOSE; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Phylogeography of the dry vegetation endemic species Nephila sexpunctata (Araneae: Araneidae) suggests recent expansion of the Neotropical Dry Diagonal. Journal of Biogeography, v. 44, n. 9, p. 2007-2020, SEP 2017. Web of Science Citations: 7.

PERES, ELEN A.; SILVA, MARCIO J.; SOLFERINI, VERA N. Phylogeography of the spider Araneus venatrix (Araneidae) suggests past connections between Amazon and Atlantic rainforests. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 121, n. 4, p. 771-785, AUG 2017. Web of Science Citations: 6.

MARTINS, CARLOS H. Z.; CUNHA, BEATRIZ P.; SOLFERINI, VERA N.; TRIGO, JOSE R. Feeding on Host Plants with Different Concentrations and Structures of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids Impacts the Chemical-Defense Effectiveness of a Specialist Herbivore. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 10 OCT 30 2015. Web of Science Citations: 12.

SOBRAL-SOUZA, THADEU; LIMA-RIBEIRO, MATHEUS S.; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Biogeography of Neotropical Rainforests: past connections between Amazon and Atlantic Forest detected by ecological niche modeling. EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY, v. 29, n. 5, p. 643-655, SEP 2015. Web of Science Citations: 32.

PERES, ELEN A.; SOBRAL-SOUZA, THADEU; PEREZ, MANOLO F.; BONATELLI, ISABEL A. S.; SILVA, DANIEL P.; SILVA, MARCIO J.; SOLFERINI, VERA N. Pleistocene Niche Stability and Lineage Diversification in the Subtropical Spider Araneus omnicolor (Araneidae). PLoS One, v. 10, n. 4 APR 9 2015. Web of Science Citations: 16.