Systematics and diversity of Tiger Moths (Noctuoidea: Erebidae)

• Grant number: 13/09647-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: November 26, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Grantee: Maurício Moraes Zenker
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/06646-2 - Phylogenetic structure of the subfamily Arctiinae (Noctuoidea: Erebidae) in Serra do Mar, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The subfamily Arctiinae is a highly speciose group of moths in the neotropics, with many species showing complex associations with their host plants, and being part of Müllerian mimicry rings with other insect species. The obtainment of DNA barcoding sequences for hundreds of Tiger Moth species, as part of a biodiversity study performed along an altitudinal gradient in the region of Serra do Mar, Paraná State, between 2010 and 2012, motivated this project which the main purpose is to clarify the phylogenetic relationships within the Arctiinae tribes. These evolutionary information can be integrated with the diversity patterns found along the altitudinal gradient studied to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes that shaped the community. Additionally, we intend to refine the taxonomical identifications of the species found in the Serra do Mar of Paraná State, and study the patterns of temporal diversity and community composition of the superfamily Noctuoidea in Southern Brazil, during the climatic phenomenon El Niño Southern Oscilation (1997-1998). We hope that, whether approved, this project may contribute to the implementation of conservation actions of moths, and in taxonomical and ecological studies of communities of Arctiinae and other Noctuoidea taxa in Brazil.

Scientific publications

(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)

ZENKER, MAURICIO MORAES; DEVRIES, PHILIP J.; PENZ, CARLA M.; TESTON, JOSE A.; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR; PIE, MARCIO R.. Diversity and composition of Arctiinae moth assemblages along elevational and spatial dimensions in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Journal of Insect Conservation, v. 19, n. 1, p. 129-140, FEB 2015. (13/09647-7, 11/50225-3)

ZENKER, MAURICIO M.; WAHLBERG, NIKLAS; BREHM, GUNNAR; TESTON, JOSE A.; PRZYBYLOWICZ, LUKASZ; PIE, MARCIO R.; FREITAS, ANDRE V. L.. Systematics and origin of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) in the Neotropical region. ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA, v. 46, n. 3, p. 348-362, MAY 2017. (13/50297-0, 14/06646-2, 11/50225-3, 13/09647-7, 12/50260-6)

ZENKER, MAURICIO MORAES; DEVRIES, PHILIP J.; PENZ, CARLA M.; TESTON, JOSE A.; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR; PIE, MARCIO R.. Diversity and composition of Arctiinae moth assemblages along elevational and spatial dimensions in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 19, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2015-02-01. (11/50225-3, 13/09647-7)