THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MESEMBRINELLINAE (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) AND ITS POTENTIAL AS INDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Abstract

Tropical forests are among the richest ecosystems in the planet, and thus modifications to their habitats frequently cause the extinction of species . Few are the studies that were based on previous investigations of forest fauna to suggest strategies for ecological restoration, most of which focused on pollinators and seed-dispersing animals. The present paper presents a review of the current literature on the theme and poses a discussion of possible biological indicators, suggesting mesembrinellinae flies as potential indicators for conserved woods, as these sinantropic dipterans can adapt to forested areas of the Neotropical Region. One of the advantages of using insects as environmental indicators is their rapid reproduction, enabling more immediate reactions to environmental oscillations.