Abstract
ABSTRACT Crane flies are the most diverse group within Diptera, but they are rarely studied in coastal ecosystems. Considering the scarcity of information on the biology and ecology of this group in the Neotropics, and the sparse literature available for taxonomic identification, we developed a descriptive checklist that incorporates morphology and DNA barcoding. We also created a generic identification key for crane flies of southern Brazilian salt marshes. We sampled crane flies continuously at three areas along the Patos Lagoon salt marshes over one year. A total of 14 genera/subgenera, 6 species, and 12 morphotypes belonging to Limoniidae and Tipulidae were identified. Distribution ranges of Symplecta cana (Walker, 1848) and two Ormosia Rondani, 1856 species were expanded. mtDNA COI sequences were compared to the BOLD and NCBI databases, but were matched only at the family level. Therefore, we provided sequences to both platforms, updated to the genus level. We found low (0.00-0.03) intraspecific and high (0.11-0.25) interspecific molecular differences indicating that the mtDNA COI region is adequate for distinguishing species within the Tipuloidea. The Dicranomyia Stephens, 1829 species complex showed low genetic difference, indicating that they could be one species with high morphological plasticity. This study will serve as a basis for future research on insects of Neotropical salt marshes.
Highlights
Crane flies are the most diverse group within Diptera, but they are rarely studied in coastal ecosystems
3,500 crane fly species are recognized throughout the Neotropical region, of which around 99.6% are in the families Limoniidae and Tipulidae (De Jong et al, 2008; Oosterbroek, 2018)
Research at salt marshes is commonly focused on species such as fish (e.g. Contente et al, 2010; Campos et al, 2015), polychaetes, crustaceans (e.g. Mackenzie et al, 2015) and birds (e.g. Britto & Bugoni, 2015), but there are rare studies on insect groups conducted at these environments
Summary
Crane flies are the most diverse group within Diptera, but they are rarely studied in coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes are typical coastal habitats of mid- and high-latitude areas (Stevens et al, 2006), including the southern Neotropical region They are characterized as transition areas between estuaries and land, display few but numerous plant species, and are dominated by a fauna and flora that tolerate rapid variations in salinity (Costa & Marangoni, 2010). Estuarine flow and precipitation levels tend to increase salinities at these salt marshes during the summer, and decrease them in the winter (D’Incao et al, 1992) The margins of this estuarine environment are dominated by halophyte plant species such as Spartina alterniflora and S. densiflora (Poaceae), as well as Myrsine parvifolia (Primulaceae) shrubs (Costa et al, 1997). Morphological and DNA barcoding methods are frequently combined for taxonomic determination, the latter based mainly on mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) sequences for specific
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