Distribuição e taxonomia de besouros higropétricos (Insecta: Coleoptera) na Região Neotropical

Abstract

Conservation biology faces a critical challenge in understanding the distribution of biodiversity, with the goal of discovering unknown populations across continents. This necessitates expanding the coverage of known biodiversity ranges, which are currently confined to a few well-surveyed regions. This series of studies has significantly augmented our understanding of the diversity and distribution of hygropetric beetles in the Neotropical Region, with a primary focus on Brazil. We have described new species from the Ephydrolithus Girón & Short, 2019 e Oocyclus Sharp, 1882 genera, all of which are associated with hygropetric habitats such as wet rocks, waterfalls, and seepages. Specifically, our research has doubled the count of known Ephydrolithus species from five to ten and has described nine new species of Oocyclus. Additionally, new geographical records have been provided for several previously known species of these genera. In a wider context, our study has explored the diversity and distribution of hygropetric beetles across the entire Neotropical Region using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) and elevational gradient analysis. This approach has offered valuable insights into diversity, areas of high potential suitability, and the relationship to mountainous areas. Our findings have underscored the significance of the Hydrophilidae, which comprises approximately 70% of hygropetric beetle species in the region, and have pinpointed the Andes Cordillera, as well as the Guiana and Brazilian Shields, as hotspots of diversity for this guild. The essential information derived from these studies serves to guide future research and conservation efforts for these crucial organisms in the Neotropical Region.