Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of the Chipola River basin in Florida and southeast Alabama, USA: a faunistic survey

Abstract

A field survey of caddisflies of the Chipola River basin in Florida and Alabama was carried out from 2006 through 2012. Adults were collected at 54 sites. Most were stream collections, but three were lakes. In total, 122 samples were taken. Approximately 32,000 individuals were identified, comprising 143 species, 40 genera, and 18 families. Two species represent new Florida state records. Three species are new to science. The majority of species were Leptoceridae, Hydroptilidae, Hydropsychidae, and Polycentropodidae. Most abundant families were Hydroptilidae, Leptoceridae, Hydropsychidae, and Psychomyiidae. A few species/families were largely or entirely confined to specific water body and habitat types, but most were broadly distributed. There was no apparent correlation between stream size and taxa richness. Rarer habitat-specialists were more commonly found in small tributaries than main stem sites. In general, there was a decrease in taxa richness from upstream to downstream in the river’s main stem.