Esforços e vieses de coleta em Stratiomyidae (Diptera) no Brasil: investigando padrões e lacunas na taxonomia da família

Abstract

The identification of priority areas for biodiversity conservation is hindered by the scarcity of data on the distribution of diverse groups, such as the order Diptera. Despite comprising approximately 160,000 described species, they have been historically neglected, and their richness remains underestimated, necessitating greater taxonomic effort. The family Stratiomyidae exemplifies this scenario due to the still scarce and outdated knowledge about the group. This study aims to address knowledge gaps regarding the occurrence of Stratiomyidae in Brazil by identifying sampling biases and priority areas for collection and conservation. To this end, records from iNaturalist, the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna, and specialized literature were compiled and standardized using the Darwin Core standard, and the resulting dataset was analyzed in R. Based on geographic verification, maps were produced to identify richness patterns and sampling gaps. The results revealed a strong spatial sampling bias associated with logistical infrastructure (roadside bias) and proximity to research centers, concentrating the majority of records in the South and Southeast regions. Consequently, biomes such as the Amazon and the Pantanal showed critical sampling deficits, with approximately 80% and 68% of their areas lacking any records, respectively. It was also observed that iNaturalist data grew exponentially over the last decade. However, it rapidly reaches saturation in species richness when compared to museum data. Alarmingly, more than 93% of occurrences of the family are outside protected areas. By strengthening the use of entomological databases, this work provides an essential foundation for assessing species threat levels and guiding future investigations, promoting a more comprehensive understanding of Stratiomyidae diversity.