Filling knowledge gaps for Brazilian lepidopterans (Nymphalidae family) from the Atlantic Forest to support effective conservation actions

• Grant number: 24/18469-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Grantee: Jhonny José Magalhães Guedes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biodiversity knowledge shortfalls hinder our understanding of ecological patterns and processes, while also affecting the implementation of effective conservation strategies. These gaps are even more pronounced for invertebrates, such as insects, which have historically been overlooked compared to vertebrates and plants. This project aims to map and reduce these knowledge gaps in the biodiversity of butterflies in Brazil, a group of insects particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Specifically, we will compile species-level attributes (e.g., wingspan, host plant, geographic range, habitat use) for all known butterfly species from the Atlantic Forest belonging to the Nymphalidae family, resulting in the most comprehensive database to date for this group. Using these data, we will explore various macroecological questions, including modelling the geographic rarity of species and their vulnerability to climate change. Additionally, we will apply multiple statistical approaches to estimate the extinction risk of species that have not yet been assessed and map hotspots of unknown species, identifying promising areas and taxa for new species discoveries. Through this project, we aim not only to facilitate new studies in ecology, evolution, and biogeography, but also to provide critical support for conservation strategies and decision-making by identifying taxonomic groups and priority areas for future research and conservation efforts.