Species Richness, Diversity, and Ecology of Chironomidae (Diptera) in Fountain Creek: A Colorado Front Range Sandy-Bottom Watershed

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the chironomid species diversity of a high-gradient sandy-bottom watershed along the Colorado Front Range. Adult male Chironomidae were collected concurrently in 2007 and 2008 from 14 sites in the Fountain Creek Watershed (FCW), south central Colorado, USA, using ultraviolet night lights and sweep netting methods. Species-level identifications resulted in 151 species including 24 new species from 65 genera and 6 subfamilies. Forty species are reported here as new Colorado records, and many North American range extensions were recorded. Some species had geographical ranges that included the Neotropical, Afrotropical or Oriental regions. Species from high elevations and northern latitudes were common. Individual species accounts include annotated North American distributions, associated water quality and sediment (particle size) analyses for each site, and ecological notes. Species richness calculations using Jaccard and Sorensen similarity indices indicated, with some exceptions, that sites in closest proximity shared the most common species. Chironomus decorus was the most commonly collected species in the FCW, occurring at 13 of 14 sites; the orthoclad Cricotopus infuscatus was collected at 12 of the sites. In 2007–2008, the FCW had a very diverse chironomid species assemblage. How species composition changes in the watershed will be influenced by urbanization, global warming, and increased base flows from water diversions.