Taxonomy and palaeoentomology of Stenochironomus Kieffer, 1919 and Xestochironomus Sublette & Wirth, 1972 of the Dominican Republic

• Grant number: 24/03393-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Lívia Maria Fusari
• Grantee: Lívia Maria Fusari
• Host Investigator: Viktor Baranov
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Estación Biológica de Doñana, Spain

Abstract

Knowledge about Neotropical chironomids, especially in the Greater Antilles and smaller islands, is currently limited. This proposal aims to enhance our understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of chironomids in the Greater Antilles, especially the Dominican Republic, with a focus on the "mining chironomids" within the genera Xestochironomus and Stenochironomus. We have chosen these genera for their significant undescribed diversity in the Greater Antilles and the well-documented geological history of the region, particularly through fossil records in Dominican amber. By gaining a more comprehensive understanding of these Chironomidae groups in the Greater Antilles, we anticipate shedding light on faunal exchanges between the Nearctic and the Neotropics. This exchange has played a pivotal role in shaping the composition of faunas in both biogeographic regions. To achieve this goal, we plan to conduct a morphological analysis of both extant and amber species. This involves comparing morphological information and providing molecular characterization for extant species. Notably, the comparison of extant species with those found in Dominican amber is unprecedented and holds the potential to yield valuable morphological and ecological insights, leading to improved comprehension of the current fauna and potential descriptions of fossil species. This research will significantly contribute to our understanding of faunal exchanges between the Neotropics and the Nearctic. We are hypothesizing, that due to their proximity to the Nearctic, Antilles will have species of Xestochironomus and Stenochironomus closely phylogenetically related to the Nearctic taxa.