Metabarcodes de iDNA para Caracterização da Diversidade de Mamíferos no Brasil

Abstract

Systematics and taxonomy are essential for biological classification, but they face limitations when using only morphological characters, especially in Neotropical ecosystems, which host rich biodiversity, are highly threatened, and are under-sampled, leading to the extinction of many species before they are described. Molecular techniques, such as metabarcoding, provide rapid and accurate identifications without the need for prior morphological knowledge. Metabarcoding identifies species from short DNA fragments released by organisms into the environment. Its efficiency is similar to or greater than that of camera traps, which, although useful in mammal surveys, fail to identify small or arboreal species. Hematophagous and saprophagous dipterans have a high dispersal capacity and can locate elusive mammals in tropical environments, with their collection being more efficient through flight interception traps. The iDNA metabarcoding approach allows the identification of mammal DNA molecules from the intestinal contents of these insects. Since metabarcoding does not have a standard genetic marker, the use of multiple markers is recommended to improve taxonomic resolution. This thesis tested the effectiveness of iDNA metabarcoding in three Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado), adapting primers to Neotropical diversity to improve species detection, using flies from the families Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Tabanidae. This thesis highlights the importance of integrating metabarcoding into conservation and biomonitoring strategies, optimizing biodiversity analysis and supporting public policies for the preservation of Brazilian biomes.