SIFI- BRAZIL

Feira de Santana, BahiaSummer 2013 and 2014

Bianca Brown

Research Areas

• Ecology and Molecular Biology • Environmental Science-Water Quality • Geology-Various Projects at Chapada

Dimentina

Brazil’s biodiversity is one of the richest in the world. It is estimated that the biodiversity in

Brazil represents around 20 percent of all life on the planet.

The State of Bahia

• 4th largest population • Size of 567,295 km² and tropical climate it is host to a plethora of floral and faunal species• Fragile Areas include the Atlantic Forrest

Bahia-Before the 1990’s

Cocoa economic boom of the 1970s and Development in Bahia had expanded into fragile ecosystems.The state had done little to take a more active role in land-use planning or protecting ecosystems

Environmental Problems

• Land degradation• Deforestation• Lost of species

All of these issues lead to the decline of Brazil’s endangered Atlantic Forest ecosystem, of which only about 10% persists today.

Bahia After 1990’s

• In the past decade the State of Bahia has aggressively implemented a policy of creating environmentally protected areas. The number of APAs and the area covered by them have grown significantly.

Pratigi • Created April 2, 1998• Localized region of Bahia South Bass• Five municipalities make up their territory: Ibirapitanga,

Igrapiúna, Ituberá Nile and Northern Pirai.• In the list of 34 global biodiversity hotspots, requiring us all

priority conservation actions, due to its high degree of biological diversity.

Pratigi Bahia, OCT

Ecopolo of Pratigi

Ecopolo 1 Ecopolo 2 Ecopolo 3

Replication study of "arboreal ant assemblages respond differently to food source and vegetation

types: a study in the Atlantic Rain Forrest" carried out five years ago

Concept behind the Project

As trophic groups of ants that are glucose and protein consumers are generalist and specialist, respectively, ant assemblages of generalist ants are expected to be more similar while the specialists would be different between habitats.As conservation increase and food sources diversify and increase overall species diversity of both generalists and specialists ants were expected to increase.

Using ants as bio indicators

ProteinCarbohydrate

Both

Deforested Areas are less diverse

Increase Diversity of Forest should result in an increase in food source

Study Cite

Villa Cinco forest -Conserved secondary

Pacangu -Conserved and Regenerated

Agro-forest mixed with cocoa and rubber

MethodSet Sardine and Honey baits

MethodPitfall

Dig a hole Place cup in hole Add Alcohol

MethodWinkler Extractor

Collect leaves Place leaves in sifter Sift Leaves

MethodSorting Samples

MethodSorting Samples

Sorting Samples We removed the glasses with alcohol and emptied the bags.

Sorting Samples

Comparison-The objective of this project is to make a direct comparison

5 years ago• 69 species of ants were

attracted to the bait.• 21 Honey unique, 25 unique

sardines• Agro Forestry the Reserved

forest had the highest species diversity

2013,2014• Data is still being Collected

but preliminary data Collection suggests that there has been an increase in the number species of ants.

If conservation efforts are successful, the number of ant species will increase until

a climax community is reached.

69 ants

Number of speciesNumber of years samples

Num

ber o

f Spe

cies

Investigate the different populations of ant species whose habitats are in three distinct regions of the area Pratigi.

Morphological Identification

• Dark reddish-brown to piceous with antennae and legs yellowish-brown reddish-brown

Leg

antennae

Morphological Identification• Petiole with conspicuous

transverse striae. conspicuous anteriorly, laterally, and baso-posteriorly, but reduced or lacking on remainder of posterior region; paired, slender, acute metasternal spines present.

• First gastral tergite shagreened and with fine appressed pubescence separated by at least one-fourth the length of each hair

• Head Length usually greater than 2.5 mm

• Pronotum with transverse striae posteriorly

Total Length

Petiole Pronotum

gaster

Genetic Analysis-CO1-gene "gene barcoding ideal"

• Present in most eukaryotic species.• Encodes a protein that is vital to cellular

respiratory function.• Found in the mitochondria so it is easy to

control because maternal lineages mitochondrial genes are received exclusively from the mother.

• Does not undergo recombination.

MethodExtraction, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis

Expected Results

Odontomachus meinerti

Ecopolo 1 Restinga

Ecopolo 1 JATIM

Ecopolo 2 Michelin Ecological Reserve

Ecopolo 2 IgrapiunaEcopolo 3 Ibirapit

Odontomachus haematodus

Geology Component

Chapada Diamantina

Cultural Component

It is not only a scientific exchange program it is also a cultural exchange program

• Attempt to learn the language• Attempt to eat the food• Go sight seeing • Make friends

Advantages of SIFI

• Helps in understanding the social aspect of research

• Growth as a researcher in understanding global impacts of research

• Plan and execute research projects• Research experience that graduate schools are

interested in • Increase cultural understanding

Advice

• Do not be scared or intimidated• Ensure that this is the type of research you are

interested in• Build tolerance • Immerse yourself in the culture and Enjoy the

experience

Special Thanks

Dr. BrathwaiteDr. Evandro Nascimento Silva

Luciano PeneluDr. Washington Dr. Eddy Olivera Neto Menezes

Scifi 2013 ParticipantsScifi 2014 Participants