Bridging Knowledge Gaps in the Amazon: UEMA's Landmark Study
The Brazilian Amazon, home to an estimated 10% of the world's known biodiversity, continues to reveal surprises even to seasoned researchers. A groundbreaking study co-authored by experts from the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA), published in the prestigious Proceedings of the Royal Society B on February 4, 2026, sheds light on previously unrecognized biases in scientific research efforts. Titled "Accessibility drives research efforts on Amazonian sarcosaprophagous flies," the paper analyzes over 8,244 occurrence records of key fly families, exposing how logistical challenges skew our understanding of this vital ecosystem.
Led by Bruna L. B. Façanha from the Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) and Unifap, the research team includes José R. P. Sousa from UEMA's Centro de Ciências Agrárias. This collaboration underscores the growing role of Brazilian state universities in international science, particularly in addressing Amazon biodiversity gaps.
The findings are timely, as deforestation alerts in the Amazon dropped 35% from August 2025 to January 2026, yet remote areas remain understudied, threatening conservation efforts.
Understanding Sarcosaprophagous Flies and Their Ecological Role
Sarcosaprophagous flies, from the families Calliphoridae (blowflies), Mesembrinellidae, and Sarcophagidae (flesh flies), are decomposers that feed on carrion and decaying organic matter. These insects play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, breaking down dead animals and plants to recycle nutrients back into the soil, supporting forest health.
In the Amazon, where biodiversity is immense—insects alone represent over 70% of known species in Brazil—they serve as bioindicators. Changes in their communities can signal environmental disturbances like deforestation or climate shifts. Additionally, they have applications in public health (as potential disease vectors) and forensic science, where they help estimate time of death by analyzing succession on corpses.
Despite their importance, these 'less charismatic' groups are often overlooked compared to mammals or birds, amplifying knowledge gaps in invertebrate biodiversity.
Key Findings: 40% of Forests Remain Scientifically Unknown
The study mapped knowledge distribution using machine learning (Random Forest models) on occurrence data from 1910 to 2023, sourced from GBIF, SpeciesLink, and SiBBr. A null model simulating uniform sampling revealed stark biases: approximately 40% of forested areas have less than 10% probability of documented fly occurrences for both families and species.
- 41.5% of upland habitats underrepresented for Calliphoridae
- 39.9% for Mesembrinellidae
- 42.8% for Sarcophagidae
80% of the region matches random chance expectations, but accessibility—measured by travel time and distance to research centers—dominates as the predictor, explaining higher sampling in riverine and urban-adjacent zones.
Degraded areas are oversampled, with species tolerant to disturbance better documented, while forest specialists in remote, high-conservation zones like Quilombola territories (covering ~10% of the Amazon) are neglected.
For more on biodiversity mapping tools, explore research jobs in geospatial analysis at Brazilian universities.
The Methodology Behind the Revelations
Researchers compiled 8,244 records at 1km resolution, analyzing three levels: three families, 15 best-sampled species, and 50,000 null model points. Predictors included forest degradation, dry season length, land tenure (protected areas, Indigenous lands), and accessibility metrics (VIF <2 for collinearity).
Models achieved high accuracy (Sørensen index 0.7-0.8), confirming accessibility as the top driver via mean squared error increases. Partial dependence plots showed knowledge probability dropping sharply with increased travel time.
This rigorous approach highlights how logistical biases distort biodiversity inventories, a pattern likely extending to other taxa.
Read the full study here.UEMA's Pivotal Contribution Through Prof. José Roberto Sousa
UEMA, a key public higher education institution in Maranhão, bridges Amazon and Northeast Brazil research. Prof. Sousa, from the Zootecnia department, brings expertise in Diptera ecology, inventories, and community studies. His involvement exemplifies UEMA's commitment to regional biodiversity research.
As vice-coordinator of PPGCIAG and permanent faculty in Agriculture and Environment programs, Sousa advances Zootecnia students' training in entomology. This publication elevates UEMA's international profile, attracting collaborations and funding.
Interested in similar roles? Check faculty positions in Brazilian agrosciences.
Amazon Biodiversity: Stats and Broader Context
The Amazon harbors 3 million insect species (estimated), but only ~125,000 animal species documented in Brazil, with insects at 91,000. Canopy strata hold 60% unique species missed by ground sampling.
| Group | Estimated Amazon Species | Documented (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Insects | ~3 million | <10% |
| Flies (Diptera) | ~150,000 | ~20% |
| Sarcosaprophagous Flies | Thousands | Biased |
Despite reductions in deforestation (50% drop 2022-2025 per Prodes), knowledge lags hinder policy.
Conservation Implications: Why These Gaps Matter
Oversampling degraded areas misrepresents ecosystem health; remote forests, vital carbon sinks, hide undescribed species at risk of extinction before discovery. Flies indicate trophic disruptions from habitat loss.
- Neglect of Quilombola/Indigenous lands (~10-20% Amazon) ignores preserved hotspots.
- Loss of decomposers slows nutrient cycling, affecting tree regeneration.
- Forensic and health applications suffer from incomplete baselines.
Targeted surveys and community partnerships are essential.UEMA press release
Challenges Facing Amazon Research Efforts
Logistics dominate: poor infrastructure, funding shortages, safety in remote areas. Brazilian higher ed faces stagnant state funding, yet networks like INCT-SinBiAm foster collaboration.
Taxonomist shortages exacerbate gaps; invertebrates get <1% research focus despite comprising most diversity.
Solutions and Future Outlook
Authors advocate FAIR/CARE data principles, open platforms (TAOCA), Indigenous partnerships, and funding for remote expeditions (e.g., Amazônia +10). Drones and eDNA promise efficiency.
Brazilian universities like UEMA are poised to lead with expanded postdocs and lecturer roles. Explore postdoc opportunities in ecology.
UEMA and Brazilian Higher Ed's Rising Research Profile
UEMA's involvement signals Northeast Brazil's emergence in Amazon studies. With programs in Agriculture and Environment, it trains future experts. Link to Brazil higher ed jobs and career advice.
Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash
Call to Action: Join the Biodiversity Research Frontier
This study calls for more researchers. Visit Rate My Professor for insights, higher ed jobs, university jobs, and career advice. Contribute to conservation via Brazilian academia.
