Scientific collection of ASTEROIDEA from the UNICAMP Museum of Biological Diversity: a display of the biodiversity of the coast of São Paulo.

• Grant number: 24/06814-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Grantee: Flavio Henrique Franco Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/10313-0 - Build-up of scientific collections of marine invertebrates: strategies for biodiversity conservation, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The Asteroidea constitute the best-known group of the Echinodermata. In order to recognize the biodiversity of echinoderms on the coast of São Paulo, this project aims to identify the different species and families of sea stars deposited in the scientific collection of the Museum of Biological Diversity (MDBio), of the Institute of Biology of the UNICAMP. There are approximately 570 listed lots, containing specimens not yet identified, or identified at family. To the taxonomic refinement of the biological collection and the integration of information and data on the biodiversity of this group, all material will be reviewed, reorganized and properly described and illustrated. The specimens will be morphologically studied using the specialized literature of each family. At the end, the characters obtained will be compared and reevaluated regarding their diagnostic value.