Is the composition of the dipteran (Insecta) assemblage altered in mangrove environments by the presence of anthropogenic disturbances? A preliminary study on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

Sarcosaprophagous dipterans are well known due to their forensic and medical-sanitary importance, as they are possible vectors of pathogens and cause myiasis. However, their potential as bioindicators of anthropogenic actions is still little explored, especially in environments with high human interference (e.g., coastal environments). Thus, this work aims to compare the abundance and frequency of dipteran of forensic importance between two mangrove landscapes with different human impact levels: i) Baía Formosa, characterized as less anthropized, and ii) Extremoz, as a more anthropized mangrove. Adult flies were collected by using suspended traps containing decomposing animal tissue (chicken liver) as baits. A diverse assemblage of sarcosaprophagous Diptera was registered in the two mangroves, consisting of 18 species from four families: Calliphoridae (n = 1,738; S = 4), Sarcophagidae (n= 214; S = 9), Muscidae (n = 46; S = 3) and Fanniidae (n = 26; S = 2). Chrysomya megacephala was the most abundant species in Baía Formosa and Oxysarcodexia intona in Extremoz. In addition, this study reveals that human impact levels can modulate the structure and composition of flies’ assemblages in mangrove environments.

Keywords

• calliphoridae
• chrysomya
• human impact
• sarcophagidae