High altitude Chironomidae (Diptera) of Serra da Estrela (Portugal): Additions to the Portuguese and Iberian Peninsula fauna

M Rieradevall,M L Chaves,N Prat

doi:10.3989/graellsia.2007.v63.i2.94

Abstract

A Chironomidae (Diptera) fauna list for headwater streams of high altitude areas in Serra da Estrela (Portugal) is presented, doubling the previously established species richness for the region. The findings include 17 new records for Portugal, which represent an increase to 219 species for the Continental Portugal Chironomidae fauna. Two new records were detected for the Iberian Peninsula: one species (Tvetenia duodenaria), and one subgenus –Psectrocladius (Mesopsectrocladius)–; and the presence of the genus Natarsia is confirmed. The last two occurrences correspond to monoespecific taxa of the Palearctic region. However, as taxonomic identification has been based on larval material, instead of pupae, pupal exuviae or imagoes, species level assignment is still uncer

Highlights

Chironomids are one of the most abundant and diverse group of aquatic insects inhabiting freshwater systems, in alpine headwater streams (Castella et al, 2001; Lods-Crozet et al, 2001a; 2001b; Maiolini & Lencioni, 2001) and lakes (Rieradevall et al, 1998, Rieradevall & Prat, 1999, 2000; Füreder et al, 2006)
Species identified using pupaes and pupal exuviae during the present study are presented in Table 2, with indication of stream and collection date and type and quantity of examined material
For completeness and due to the relevance of some findings, we present a check list of chironomid taxa that were identified using larval material exclusively (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Chironomids are one of the most abundant and diverse group of aquatic insects inhabiting freshwater systems, in alpine headwater streams (Castella et al, 2001; Lods-Crozet et al, 2001a; 2001b; Maiolini & Lencioni, 2001) and lakes (Rieradevall et al, 1998, Rieradevall & Prat, 1999, 2000; Füreder et al, 2006). These areas have great biogeographical interest due to the presence of both euryoecious and cold-stenothermal species, which cannot cross geographical barriers formed by warmer lowland waters. The main objective of the present paper is to improve the knowledge of Serra da Estrela freshwater biodiversity, namely with respect to the Chironomidae fauna

Objectives

Methods

Results