A survey of bacterial endosymbionts collected along an altitudinal transect in the Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 16/15434-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Cogni
• Grantee: Marcos Aurélio Martins Oliveira da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/25991-0 - Ecological genomics of insects: climate adaptations and evolution of ecological interactions, AP.JP

Abstract

This project aims to estimate the frequency of the bacterial endosymbionts Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in drosophilid communities collected along an altitudinal transect in the Atlantic Forest. Over twelve months a student will work with the Principal Investigator in sampling, sorting and identification of Drosophila species associated with mushroom and fruits in fermentation in the forest ground. The student will be responsible for determining the frequency of individuals infected by the two bacteria byPCR reactions. (AU)