Diversity of Necrophagous Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Mesembrinellidae, and Sarcophagidae) in Anthropogenic and Preserved Environments of Five Different Phytophysiognomies in Northeastern Brazil.

Abstract

The present study investigated the potential association between the richness and abundance of species of the dipteran families Calliphoridae, Mesembrinellidae, and Sarcophagidae in anthropogenic and preserved environments of five phytophysiognomies (Cerrado, Amazon forest, Palm forest, marshland, and mangrove) that occur throughout the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil. We sampled 90 sites (45 preserved and 45 anthropogenic areas) where we collected 26,036 specimens: 15,023 calliphorids (11 species), 231 mesembrinellids (one species), and 10,772 sarcophagids (52 species). Four environmental factors, canopy openness, temperature, leaf litter depth, and vegetation height, contributed most to the separation of preserved and anthropogenic sites in all five phytophysiognomies. Leaf litter depth was positively associated with the species richness of the calliphorids and mesembrinellids (C+ M group), while tree/shrub density, vegetation height, and temperature were associated negatively with the richness of the sarcophagids. Tree/shrub density and vegetation height were also associated negatively with abundance in both C+M and sarcophagid species. Overall, then, the structural characteristics of the environment affected the species richness and abundance, and deforestation may favor certain synanthropic species, leading to a decrease in the richness and abundance of the species that are adapted to preserved environments.