Discrimination of cryptic species: Tabanus triangulum and Tabanus occidentalis (Diptera: Tabanidae) differ in size and shape.

Horse fly females (Diptera, Tabanidae) are hematophagous and can vector pathogens that affect livestock. Complexes of cryptic species are common in Tabanidae, as exemplified by some species of Tabanus, including Tabanus triangulum and Tabanus occidentalis, both prevalent in the Southern region of Brazil. In this study, geometric morphometrics were employed to ascertain the wing venation in species identification. It was demonstrated that this tool effectively differentiates T. triangulum from T. occidentalis in the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul state, situated within the Pampa biome. The results indicate that T. triangulum and T. occidentalis occupy distinct regions of the morphological space, allowing their precise identification through geometric morphometrics, which is fast, affordable, and easy to implement.

Can Pheromones Contribute to Phylogenetic Hypotheses? A Case Study of Chrysomelidae.

Pheromones mediate species-level communication in the search for mates, nesting, and feeding sites. Although the role of pheromones has long been discussed by various authors, their existence was not proven until the mid-twentieth century when the first sex pheromone was identified. From this finding, much has been speculated about whether this communication mechanism has acted as a regulatory agent in the process of speciation, competition, and sexual selection since it acts as an intraspecific barrier. Chrysomelidae is one of the major Phytophaga lineages, with approximately 40,000 species. Due to this immense diversity the internal relationships remain unstable when analyzed only with morphological data, consequently recent efforts have been directed to molecular analyses to establish clarity for the relationships and found their respective monophyly. Therefore, our goals are twofold 1) to synthesize the current literature on Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and 2) to test whether Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and their chemical structures could be used in phylogenetic analysis for the group. The results show that, although this is the first analysis in Chrysomelidae to use pheromones as a phylogenetic character, much can be observed in agreement with previous analyses, thus confirming that pheromones, when known in their entirety within lineages, can be used as characters in phylogenetic analyses, bringing elucidation to the relationships and evolution of organisms.

Heat waves and mortality in the Brazilian Amazon: Effect modification by heat wave characteristics, population subgroup, and cause of death.

BACKGROUND: The Brazilian Amazon faces overlapping socio-environmental, sanitary, and climate challenges, and is a hotspot of concern due to projected increases in temperature and in the frequency of heat waves. Understanding the effects of extreme events on health is a central issue for developing climate policies focused on the population's health. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of heat waves on mortality in the Brazilian Amazon, examining effect modification according to various heat wave definitions, population subgroups, and causes of death. METHODS: We included all 32 Amazonian municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The study period was from 2000 to 2018. We obtained mortality data from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Public Healthcare System, and meteorological data were derived from the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset. Heat waves were defined according to their intensity (90th; 92.5th; 95th; 97.5th and 99th temperature percentiles) and duration (≥2, ≥3, and ≥4 days). In each city, we used a time-stratified case-crossover study to estimate the effects of each heat wave definition on mortality, according to population subgroup and cause of death. The lagged effects of heat waves were estimated using conditional Poisson regression combined with distributed lag non-linear models. Models were adjusted for specific humidity and public holidays. Risk ratios were pooled for the Brazilian Amazon using a univariate random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled relative risks (RR) for mortality from total non-external causes varied between 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01-1.06), for the less stringent heat wave definition, and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04-1.33) for the more stringent definition. The mortality risk rose as the heat wave intensity increased, although the increase from 2 to 3, and 3-4 days was small. Although not statistically different, our results suggest a higher mortality risk for the elderly, this was also higher for women than men, and for cardiovascular causes than for non-external or respiratory ones. CONCLUSIONS: Heat waves were associated with a higher risk of mortality from non-external causes and cardiovascular diseases. Heat wave intensity played a more important role than duration in determining this risk. Suggestive evidence indicated that the elderly and women were more vulnerable to the effects of heat waves on mortality.

Oral conditions associated with oral health related quality of life: A population-based cross-sectional study in Brazil.

AIM: To investigate the association between 11 oral conditions and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a multistage sampling strategy to draw a representative sample of adults aged ≥35 years living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. OHRQoL was assessed using OHIP-14. Oral examinations were conducted to assess gingivitis, dental calculus, tooth loss, gingival recession (GR), dentine hypersensitivity (DHS), dental caries (DFT), dental erosion, and non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL). Questionnaires recorded the following self-reported oral variables: xerostomia, halitosis, and perceived need for dental treatment. Structural Equation Models were used to assess the associations adjusting to demographic and behavioral variables. RESULTS: 1022 individuals were analyzed. The overall OHIP mean equaled 9.2 ± 9.7 points. Xerostomia [coefficient (coef)=0.10], halitosis (coef=0.28), DFT (coef=0.16), and DHS (coef=0.19) were significantly and directly associated with negative impacts of OHIP-14. GR was significantly and indirectly associated with poor OHRQoL due to higher DHS. Perceived need for dental treatment was significantly and directly associated with higher OHIP-14 (coef=0,40). CONCLUSIONS: Poor OHRQoL was observed in a sample of Brazilian adults and old people. Five important oral conditions were associated to poor OHRQoL. Tooth loss, gingivitis, calculus, dental erosion and NCCL did not associate with OHRQoL. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Poorer oral health related quality of life is observed in a Brazilian urban area compared to other parts of the world. Xerostomia, halitosis, dental caries, gingival recession, and dentine hypersensitivity may be targeted to improve oral health and consequently oral health related quality of life.

A onda pró-ciência em tempos de negacionismo: percepção da sociedade brasileira sobre ciência, cientistas e universidades na pandemia da COVID-19 / The pro-science wave in times of denialism: Brazilian society's perception of science, scientists, and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Resumo O artigo apresenta resultados de pesquisas sobre percepção pública da ciência na pandemia no Brasil, realizadas no Centro de Estudos SoU_Ciência, sediado na Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp). Com o intuito de responder à pergunta: "A pandemia da COVID-19 alterou a percepção da sociedade brasileira sobre ciência, cientistas e universidades?", realizamos estudos quantitativos e qualitativos entre agosto/2021 e julho/2022. Em levantamentos quantitativos nacionais de opinião pública, coletamos dados exclusivos de série histórica de enquetes sobre o tema no Brasil, e em grupos focais, aprofundamos estudos sobre percepção e posicionamento político de diferentes segmentos sociais. Em meio ao quadro de crescimento do negacionismo científico, retrocessos políticos e sociais, desmonte de políticas públicas, especificamente científicas e tecnológicas, decorrentes do impeachment de 2016 e da eleição de Bolsonaro em 2018, as pesquisas indicam, aparentemente contrariando a tendência política obscurantista, uma expressiva ampliação do interesse público pela ciência na pandemia no país. Este trabalho analisa a emergência de uma "onda pró-ciência" na opinião pública no Brasil, os fatores que propiciaram seu surgimento na pandemia e suas perspectivas na atualidade.

Abstract This article presents the results of our study on the public perception of science during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, carried out at the Centro de Estudos SoU_Ciência, from Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). To answer the question: "Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the perception of Brazilian society about science, scientists, and universities?", quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted between August 2021 and July 2022. In national quantitative public opinion surveys, we collected exclusive data from a historical series of polls on the subject in Brazil, and in focus groups, we deepened studies on the perception and political position of different social segments. Amid the growth of scientific denialism; political and social setbacks; and the dismantling of public policies, specifically scientific and technological, resulting from the impeachment of 2016 and the election of Bolsonaro in 2018, research indicates, apparently contrary to an obscurantist political tendency, a significant expansion of public interest in science during the pandemic in the country. This paper analyzes the emergence of a "pro-science wave" in public opinion in Brazil, the factors that led to its emergence during the pandemic, and its current prospects.

Semicircular canal size constrains vestibular function in miniaturized frogs.

Miniaturization has evolved repeatedly in frogs in the moist leaf litter environments of rainforests worldwide. Miniaturized frogs are among the world's smallest vertebrates and exhibit an array of enigmatic features. One area where miniaturization has predictable consequences is the vestibular system, which acts as a gyroscope, providing sensory information about movement and orientation. We investigated the vestibular system of pumpkin toadlets, Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae), a clade of miniaturized frogs from Brazil. The semicircular canals of miniaturized frogs are the smallest recorded for adult vertebrates, resulting in low sensitivity to angular acceleration due to insufficient displacement of endolymph. This translates into a lack of postural control during jumping in Brachycephalus and represents a physical constraint resulting from Poiseuille's law, which governs movement of fluids within tubes.

Accumulation of nylon microplastics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers and effects on gut microbial community of Chironomus sancticaroli.

Microplastics (MP) are emerging contaminants with the capacity to bind and transport hydrophobic organic compounds of environmental concern, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The aim of this study was to investigate the ingestion of nylon (polyamide) MP alone and when associated with PBDEs and their effects on Chironomus sancticaroli larvae survival and microbiome structure. Survival, PBDE uptake and microbial community composition were measured in fourth instar larvae exposed for 96 h to BDEs- 47, 99, 100 and 153 in the presence and absence of 1% w/w MP in sediment. Microbiome community structures were determined through high throughput sequencing of 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA). Initial experiments showed that larvae ingested MP faster at 0.5% w/w MP, while depuration was more efficient at 1% w/w MP, although retention of MP was seen even after 168 h depuration. No mortality was observed as a result of PBDEs and MP exposure. MP had a negative effect on PBDE concentration within larvae (η2 = 0.94) and a negative effect on sediment concentrations (η2 = 0.48). In all samples, microbial communities were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Bacterial alpha diversity was not significantly affected by PBDEs or MP exposure. However, the abundance of discrete bacterial taxa was more sensitive to MP (X2 = 45.81, p = 0.02), and PBDE exposure. Our results highlight that C. sancticaroli showed no acute response to MPs and PBDEs, but that MPs influenced bacterial microbiome structure even after only short-term acute exposure.

Prostatic Artery Embolization: Indications, Preparation, Techniques, Imaging Evaluation, Reporting, and Complications.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous growth of the transitional zone of the prostate, which surrounds the prostatic urethra. Consequently, it can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder outlet obstruction symptoms that may substantially reduce a patient's quality of life. Several treatments are available for BPH, including medications such as α-blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors and surgical options including transurethral resection of the prostate and prostatectomy. Recently, prostatic artery embolization (PAE) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option for selected men with BPH and moderate to severe LUTS. Adequate pre- and postprocedural evaluations with clinical examinations and questionnaires, laboratory tests, and urodynamic and imaging examinations (particularly US, MRI, and CT) are of key importance to achieve successful treatment. Considering that the use of PAE has been increasing in tertiary hospital facilities, radiologists and interventional radiologists should be aware of the main technical concepts of PAE and the key features to address in imaging reports in pre- and postprocedural settings. An invited commentary by Lopera is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2021.

Cytogenetic characterization and mapping of the repetitive DNAs in Cycloramphus bolitoglossus (Werner, 1897): More clues for the chromosome evolution in the genus Cycloramphus (Anura, Cycloramphidae).

Cycloramphus bolitoglossus (Werner, 1897) is a rare species with a low population density in the Serra do Mar region of Paraná and Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. Currently, it has been assigned to the Near Threatened (NT) category in the Brazilian List of Endangered Animal Species. Here, we described the karyotype of this species for the first time and investigated the patterns of some repetitive DNA classes in the chromosomes using molecular cytogenetic approaches. We isolated, sequenced and mapped the 5S rDNA and the satellite DNA PcP190 of C. bolitoglossus, as well as mapped the telomeric sequences and seven microsatellites motifies [(GA)15, (CA)15, (GACA)4, (GATA)8, (CAG)10, (CGC)10, and (GAA)]10. Cycloramphus bolitoglossus has 2n = 26 chromosomes and a fundamental number (FN) equal to 52, with a highly conserved karyotype compared to other genus members. Comparative cytogenetic under the phylogenetic context of genus allowed evolutionary interpretations of the morphological changes in the homologs of pairs 1, 3, and 6 along with the evolutionary history of Cycloramphus. Two subtypes of 5S rDNA type II were isolated in C. bolitoglossus genome, and several comparative analysis suggests mixed effects of concerted and birth-and-death evolution acting in this repetitive DNA. The 5S rDNA II subtype "a" and "b" was mapped on chromosome 1. However, their different position along chromosome 1 provide an excellent chromosome marker for future studies. PcP190 satellite DNA, already reported for species of the families Hylidae, Hylodidae, Leptodactylidae, and Odontophrynidae, is scattered throughout the C. bolitoglossus genome, and even non-heterochromatic regions showed hybridization signals using the PcP190 probe. Molecular analysis suggests that PcP190 satellite DNA exhibit a high-level of homogenization of this sequence in the genome of C. bolitoglossus. The PcP190 satDNA from C. bolitoglossus represents a novel sequence group, compared to other anurans, based on its hypervariable region. Overall, the present data on repetitive DNA sequences showed pseudogenization evidence and corroborated the hypothesis of the emergence of satDNA from rDNA 5S clusters. These two arguments that reinforced the importance of the birth-and-death evolutionary model to explain 5S rDNA patterns found in anuran genomes.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation on a Xp11.2 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma: A case report.

Xp11.2 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma is a very rare subtype of renal neoplasm. The present report describes the first confirmed reported case of percutaneous ablation of this subtype of tumor. The patient presented an aggressive local recurrence 12 months after the procedure, with an infiltrative large mass occupying almost the whole kidney. The patient was submitted to radical nephrectomy. As the use of ablative methods expands, the treatment of rare renal tumor subtypes, which can present unusual clinical outcomes, may become more frequent. It is essential that these uncommon outcomes are promptly recognized, allowing early therapeutic salvage approaches.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress and cell damage in freshwater bivalves Diplodon parodizi exposed to landfill leachate.

Landfill is a public and environmental health problem; establishing and understanding methodologies to decrease its toxicity are thus necessary. Leachate samples were collected, at a sanitary landfill, immediately after the exit from the landfill, i.e. raw leachate (collection point A), after conventional treatment (point B) and after treatment by wetlands (point C). D. parodizi specimens were exposed to 3%, 10% and control (0%) dilutions of leachate from these collection points for 7 days. Markers of antioxidant defences and cell damage were analysed. At point B, the gills of D. parodizi showed higher glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity; the latter is a supplier of glutathione reductase (GSH). The low GST activity at point A was associated with the hormesis effect. Higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) occurred at point A. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was inhibited at the points with the highest pollutant load and at the highest leachate dilutions. Higher levels of markers at point A may be related to the high pollutant charge and specific compounds present in the untreated leachate. The multi-xenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR), metallothionein-like proteins (MT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) did not vary among treatments. The biomarker responses showed negative effects of the leachate on the freshwater bivalve and simultaneously showed that the wetland treatment employed at the Caximba sanitary landfill is effective.

Intrapuparial Development of Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Its Use in Forensic Entomology.

In forensic entomology, the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimative is usually based on the oldest immature recovered from a local of death. The time spent by fly immatures in the intrapuparial period comprises more than 50% of their complete life cycles. An accurate estimate of the duration of this period will improve PMImin estimates. The blow fly Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani 1850) was found in six criminal cases in the city of Curitiba. Even though there is data on the morphology of the larval instars and developmental rate of H. semidiaphana, the intrapuparial period has not been investigated. Here, we provide a detailed description of the intrapuparial morphological changes of H. semidiaphana, which might be useful to estimate minimum PMI. Samples of H. semidiaphana in the intrapuparial period were obtained from immatures reared on an artificial diet in incubators adjusted to 25°C or 20°C temperature regimes. Blow fly puparia of H. semidiaphana were fixed at intervals of 3 and 6 h until emergence of the adult. The external morphological traits of sampled immatures were analyzed using light microscopy. Our analysis of the intrapuparial period of H. semidiaphana provided 21 traits from which nine were age informative. These nine characteristics divide the developmental time (144 h at 25°C and 192 h at 20°C) into smaller sections. The developmental data provided, together with the time line allows a practical way to make interspecific comparisons as well as to estimate the age of H. semidiaphana based on the intrapuparial development.

What have we learned from the dead? A compilation of three years of cooperation between entomologists and crime scene investigators in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT With homicide rates higher than the world average, Brazil stands out as one of the most violent countries worldwide. Time of death estimation based solely on body changes can be biased or inaccurate; forensic entomology can play a determinant role in such cases. Accurate knowledge of necrophilous fauna is essential to validate experimental data and allows for the application of entomological evidence in forensic investigations, which benefits scientists, investigators, and society in general. Entomological evidence from Curitiba and 22 nearby cities were collected by crime scene investigators from the Scientific Police of Paraná. The corpses were found in diverse environments and specimens from each species were collected from all life stages. We present data from 25 cases from 2011 to 2014, including associated species, new records, and comparisons between existing experimental data and data from species collected in the cases presented. We identified 23 total species, of which eight species of Coleoptera and two species of Diptera have not previously been recorded on corpses. In all cases, Calliphoridae (76%) and Silphidae (48%) were the most numerous families collected. Working together with the scientific police gave us insight into which species lacked detailed records and enabled us to collaboratively focus on resolving deficits in our knowledge of necrophagous insects.

Occurrence and predictors of gingivitis and supragingival calculus in a population of Brazilian adults.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus and their predictors in a population of adults in Brazil. A representative sample of 758 adults from 35 to 59 years of age from Porto Alegre city was examined. A structured questionnaire was applied. The Gingival Bleeding Index and the presence of calculus were measured at 4 sites/tooth. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to determine the predictors for gingival bleeding at >20% of sites. Overall, 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=95.1-98.0) of individuals had ≥ 1 bleeding site. The mean percentages of sites with gingivitis and calculus were 26.1% and 44.6%, respectively. The odds of gingivitis decreased by ∼45% for individuals ≥40 years old compared to younger adults. Individuals that never performed interproximal cleaning and non-whites had an approximately two times higher chance of gingivitis. Smokers had lower chances of gingivitis than never-smokers (odds ratio=0.40; 95% CI=0.24-0.68). Higher numbers of missing teeth were associated with higher chances of gingivitis. The percentage of calculus was significantly associated with skin color, education, proximal cleaning, smoking exposure, dental visits, and tooth loss. It can be concluded that the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus was high in this Brazilian population, and it was associated with age, skin color, education, self-reported proximal cleaning, smoking, dental care, and tooth loss.

Estimating the Age of Forensically Useful Blowfly, Sarconesia chlorogaster (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Using Larval Length and Weight.

Determining the age of an insect collected in a corpse is a key element to estimate the minimum postmortem interval in forensic entomology. Along with models of accumulated degree-hours, the estimation of the age based on larval weight and length is among the most common methods for this purpose. Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann, 1830), along with other Calliphoridae, is an important species in forensics in South America. However, studies analyzing the weight and length of S. chlorogaster larvae during development have not yet been done. In this work, we develop growth models based on the weight and length of larvae in different temperatures and provide formulas that can be used to estimate the age of the larvae based on the weight and length for each temperature. Larvae were reared at six temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35°C), and the measurements of larval length and weight were taken during all development until they stopped feeding. For the measurements, we attempted to use methodologies that can be easily replicated and do not require equipment that could be of difficult access. The results of this work come to complement and improve the use of S. chlorogaster in forensic applications.

How do bat, rodent, and marsupial communities respond to spatial and environmental gradients? Insights from a deconstruction of mammal beta diversity from the Atlantic Forest of South America.

Space and environment are fundamental in influencing the community structure. However, their relative influences vary according to species' biological characteristics. Here we test whether differences in life-history traits mainly linked to dispersal abilities influence bat, rodent and marsupial beta diversity along spatial and environmental gradients. We expect bat beta diversity to be weakly related with space in comparison to dispersal-limited rodents and marsupials. Using data from communities distributed along the Atlantic Forest of South America, we calculated the total beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components for each group. We estimated the strength of correlation of beta diversity and its components along spatial and environmental gradients, comparing their importance within and between groups. Space had the higher influence on rodent and marsupial beta diversity. For bats, both gradients influenced similarly their community composition. Between taxa, the influence of these gradients did not differ for rodents and marsupials, while bats presented a stronger relationship with environment compared to non-volant small mammals. Also, all groups presented a similar influence of the spatial gradients on their community structure, despite their differences in dispersal abilities. Our results suggest that differences in biological characteristics partially influence the community structure of these mammals, with their responses along space likely reflecting similar biogeographical dynamics affecting their distribution. Overall, our results improve the understanding of the processes structuring these communities, highlighting the benefits of comparative analyses within a beta diversity perspective to better understand the influence of multiple processes on the community assembly along geographical gradients.

Heat stress in the heart and muscle of the Antarctic fishes Notothenia rossii and Notothenia coriiceps: Carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant defence.

Carbohydrate metabolism and the antioxidant defence system of heart and muscle of the Antarctic notothenioids Notothenia rossii and Notothenia coriiceps were evaluated in response to heat stress (8 °C) over 144 h. N. rossii heart exhibited decreased glycolysis and aerobic metabolism after up to 12 h of exposure to 8 °C, and anaerobiosis was inhibited within 24 h. However, these pathways were stimulated after 72 h at 8 °C. The consumption of glucose-6-phosphate, derived from hexokinase (HK), by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) decreased in N. rossii heart within 6 h at 8 °C, with a subsequent increase at 72 h. In N. rossii muscle at 8 °C, glycolysis was stimulated within 2 h by an increase in pyruvate kinase (PK), and aerobic metabolism was stimulated at 144 h, together with anaerobiosis. In N. coriiceps heart at 8 °C, glucose break down by HK decreased within 2 h and subsequently increased at 12 and 24 h. Increased glucose-6-phosphate consumption by G6PDH occurred within 6 h at 8 °C. In N. coriiceps muscle at 8 °C, glycolysis was stimulated at 2 and 6 h, with subsequent inhibition within 24 h, as indicated by HK activity. Aerobic metabolism was inhibited at 72 and 144 h at 8 °C through the inhibition of citrate synthase (CS). Heat stress caused responses were only occasional and transient in antioxidant defence system of both species in the heart and muscle, leading to increased glutathione (GSH) and decreased levels of lipoperoxidation in the heart of both species. The results obtained in this study in the heart and muscles indicate that under heat stress at 8 °C, N. rossii is more responsive than N. coriiceps with respect to carbohydrate metabolism.

Can Sarcophagidae (Diptera) be the most important entomological evidence at a death scene? Microcerella halli as a forensic indicator

Abstract Although a corpse can harbor several species of flies, only a few have been sufficiently studied to be used as forensic indicators. Sarcophagidae are an example of how the forensic use of insects can be impaired by taxonomic and biological data limitation. This manuscript provides the first record of the Neotropical flesh fly Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) on a human body and its use in forensics. M. halli and Sarconesia chlorogaster (Widemann, 1830) were sampled from a body located indoors at 20 °C. Only M. halli was used to estimate the mPMI (minimum post mortem interval) because it was the oldest larval stage on the corpse. Based on the development time of M. halli we estimate an mPMI of at least 10 days. In addition, we provide for the first time a case in which a flesh fly was the main source of entomological evidence in Southern Brazil. We also provide evidence that Sarcophagidae arrived before Calliphoridae in this case, an unusual successional pattern.

Climate Shapes the Geographic Distribution of the Blowfly Sarconesia chlorogaster (Diptera: Calliphoridae): An Environmental Niche Modeling Approach.

For all species, abiotic factors directly affect performance, survival and reproduction, and consequently, their geographic distribution. Species distribution models (SDMs) are important tools to predict the influence of abiotic factors in species distributions and has been more applied over the years. However, these models can be built under different algorithms and using different methods to select environmental predictors, which can lead to different results. Five different algorithms and two sets of environmental predictors were compared to predict the geographic distribution of the blowfly Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). This species has several occurrence points and a considerable amount of biological data available, which makes S. chlorogaster a good model system to compare environmental predictors. Two sets of environmental predictors (mainly derived from temperature and humidity) were built, and the set based on the influence of abiotic variables on the ecophysiology of S. chlorogaster showed better results than the principal component analysis (PCA) approach using 19 climatic variables. We also employed five modeling algorithms-Envelope Score, Mahalanobis Distance, GARP, Support Vector Machines, and Maxent-and the latter two showed the best performances. The results indicate that temperature is the main factor shaping geographic distribution of S. chlorogaster through its effect on fitness. Furthermore, we showed that this species is mainly distributed in south, southeastern, and some northwestern and southwestern sites of South America. In addition, our results also predicted suitable areas in Ecuador and Colombia, countries without previous records.