Relationship between lantern anatomy, signaling patterns and bioluminescence spectra and phylogeny in fireflies from the tribe Cratomorphini (Lampyridae)

• Grant number: 24/08945-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Vadim Viviani
• Grantee: Murilo Dantas de Medeiros
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bioluminescence in the terrestrial environment occurs mainly in coleoptera of the superfamily Elateroidea, which includes 4 families: Elateridae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae. The Lampyridae family is the richest in bioluminescent species, with around 100 genera and more than 2,000 species described around the globe. The Neotropical fauna of these coleoptera is the richest, however it is still little known and is undergoing an extensive systematic review process. There are taxa whose taxonomic position still remains doubtful, including the genera of the tribe Cratomorphini. Considering our laboratory's expertise with bioluminescence, in this project we plan to relate the anatomical pattern of their lanterns, the signaling patterns and bioluminescence spectra with the molecular phylogeny of Cratomorphus and Aspisoma species available in our collection. Techniques for measuring bioluminescence spectra, photographic and videographic characterization of the bioluminescent signal, extraction and amplification of DNA by PCR using specific molecular markers, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis will be used, using programs such as MrBayes, PAUP and MEGA. Based on these analyses, we plan to verify whether the anatomy of the lanterns and the characteristics of the bioluminescent signals can be correlated and used to separate these genera from the Cratomorphini tribe. Also, based on the knowledge of larvae and adults of several Cratomorphini species in our region, we plan to establish a methodology based on the analysis of DNA markers to associate larvae and adults of lampyrid species.