Environmental Structuring and Applied Importance of Diptera Assemblages in Brazil: Altitude, Organic Substrates, Synanthropy, Decomposition, and Chi-Square Reanalysis

Abstract

Diptera associated with feces, decomposing animal tissues, fruits, and carcasses occupy dynamic habitats whose suitability varies with environmental conditions and resource characteristics. This study integrated quantitative information from eight experimental compilations conducted mainly in Goiás and Minas Gerais, Brazil, to evaluate how altitude, organic substrate, dung origin, habitat, decomposition time, fruit resources, and carrion influence dipteran abundance and composition. Original experimental datasets were audited before analysis to avoid double counting of repeated or overlapping records, and complementary chi-square tests were applied only when absolute categorical frequencies permitted statistically interpretable comparisons. In Serra de Caldas Novas, 2.946 Diptera were recorded, with greater pooled abundance and richness at 1,000 m than at 740 m. A seven-substrate experiment containing 4.080 Diptera showed pronounced heterogeneity among organic resources, with buffalo dung supporting the highest abundance. Buffalo and cattle dung also differed significantly in species composition, while a forest-rural-urban comparison demonstrated species-specific synanthropic patterns. Temporal exposure of bovine feces from 24 to 240 h produced significant variation in Diptera abundance, indicating succession associated with substrate aging. Frugivorous Diptera were dominated by Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera, Tephritidae) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera, Tephritidae), emphasizing agricultural relevance, whereas carrion-associated Calliphoridae, particularly Chrysomya spp. supported the forensic component of the synthesis. Across the retained datasets, Diptera assemblages were consistently non-random and strongly structured by resource type and environmental context. The integrated results connect decomposer ecology with medical-veterinary entomology, forensic entomology, and the management of agriculturally important flies.