Diversity of Drosophilidae (Diptera, Schizophora) in one fragment of Semideciduos Atlantic Forest, at Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest used to be a huge one, and until the end of the 19th century along all the Brazilian coast, occupying a wide zone between latitudes 3º and 33ºS, covering approximately a million square kilometers. It is developed over a variety of soils and topography, with very diverse geological and geomorphological characteristics. Even today it is home to an enormous biological diversity. This project is part of a bigger one, funded by FAPESP (Proc. 2009/ 54.497-8), that aimed to know and to characterize the dipterofauna (Insecta: Diptera) from one Atlantic Semi-deciduous Forest fragment, at Sertãozinho, SP, relative to its species diversity and richness, testing the hypothesis that the dipteran elements in Semideciduous forests of the Atlantic Forest correspond to endemic elements separate from the Atlantic Forest along the Serra do Mar. To accomplish this, the Diptera is being collected using a standard protocol for two types of traps, besides entomological sweeping nets, in fortnightly collects, along two years. Inserted in this context, this project aimed to analyze the diversity of Drosophilidae in this area. Another aim is the scientific vocational training of the student, throughout her work in the various steps of a Scientific Project, since its design, data collecting and analyzes and elaboration of the final report but also the presentation of the result in scientific meetings and publishing. (AU)