Diversity Of Mayflies Research Articles

Checklist, distribution, diversity, and rarity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in Slovakia.

Despite the essential role of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in freshwater ecosystems and their long-term use in research and routine biomonitoring in the Carpathian and Pannonian ecoregions, their distribution data are fragmentary and outdated. All published and unpublished data on mayflies from Slovakia was gathered and a database of > 15,000 species records from 2206 localities built with the aims (i) to critically revise available data and assess the completeness of the species inventory, (ii) to identify hotspots of species diversity, and (iii) to provide a benchmark for assessment of species rarity and conservation status in the region. After the critical revision of the data covering more than 100 years, the occurrence of 109 mayfly species in Slovakia was confirmed. The species inventory appears to be nearly complete, as evidenced by the rarefaction curve and a nonparametric species richness estimator. The highest mayfly gamma diversity was recorded below 500 m a.s.l. and in streams of the fifth order, which can be considered hotspots of mayfly diversity in the region. Six species were last recorded before 1990 and thus can be considered extinct in Slovakia. Twenty-nine species could be classified as very rare, with their occurrence frequency decreasing with increasing altitude and most of them being restricted to large lowland rivers and stagnant water habitats in their floodplains. In conclusion, our study provides comprehensive data on key freshwater bioindicators and suggests increasing conservation priorities, especially in lowland river floodplains occupied by several very rare mayfly species.

Fluctuation in the diversity of mayflies (Insecta, Ephemerida) as documented in the fossil record

Due to their aquatic larvae, the evolution of mayflies is intricately tied to environmental changes affecting lakes and rivers. Despite a rich fossil record, little is known about the factors shaping the pattern of diversification of mayflies in deep time. We assemble an unprecedented dataset encompassing all fossil occurrences of mayflies and perform a Bayesian analysis to identify periods of increased origination or extinction. We provide strong evidence for a major extinction of mayflies in the mid-Cretaceous. This extinction and subsequent faunal turnover were probably connected with the rise of angiosperms. Their dominance caused increased nutrient input and changed the chemistry of the freshwater environments, a trend detrimental mainly to lacustrine insects. Mayflies underwent a habitat shift from hypotrophic lakes to running waters, where most of their diversity has been concentrated from the Late Cretaceous to the present.

Mayfly Larvae (Ephemeroptera) in Thailand: Diversity and Science Communication

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are one of the most common components of aquatic assemblages in freshwater environments and contribute to ecosystem services. Mayflies have been widely used as indicators of water quality and frequently play an important role in biomonitoring protocols. Mayflies exhibit a decrease in taxa richness with increases in stream or river pollution and degradation. A series of taxonomic studies on Thai mayflies reported 19 families, 73 genera, and approximately 176 species. The families Baetidae and Heptageniidae are the most diverse and widespread groups of Thai mayflies. Our understanding of the diversity of Thai mayflies has steadily increased in recent years. New genera are being described: Cymbalcloeon Suttinun, Gattolliat & Boonsoong, 2020; Elatosara Malzacher, 2020; Megabranchiella Phlai-ngam & Tungpairojwong, 2022; Mekongellina Malzacher, 2019; Sangpradubina Boonsoong & Sartori, 2016; and Thainis Malzacher, 2020. New species and new country records are constantly being discovered in Thailand. Nevertheless, the number of genera and species seems to be lower than the species diversity estimation, and several genera and species remain undescribed. Research on the systematics and ecology of mayflies has been increasing in recent years. DNA barcoding can provide a powerful supplement to the traditional morphological approach to species delimitation. The book entitled “Mayfly Larvae in Thailand” (Thai version) and the boardgame “Thai Mayflies” were developed for environmental science communication. Further efforts are required to assess the conservation status of mayfly species. Thus, data on mayfly diversity and ecological requirements could be used as tools to evaluate environmental impacts on water resources and to drive future research on biodiversity conservation management strategies.

Factors structuring patterns of Ephemeroptera (mayflies) species assemblages in different segments of the Western Ghats of peninsular India—a snapshot

Species assemblage patterns of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in different segments of the Western Ghats (WG) of peninsular India including those on “sky islands” are presented. An updated checklist of species of WG mayflies is provided and sorted by traits of individual species and supplemented by personal observations. Comparisons are made in this context with patterns of current distribution of some ancient lineages of myriapods, amphibians and birds from the WG focusing on relative roles of geographical barriers (gaps), paleoclimatic, eco-evolutionary scenarios and anthropogenic impacts. This is to highlight the need to prioritize conservation of this rapidly shrinking precious biological heritage. Future work on molecular aspects of intra- and interspecific diversity of mayflies, which are “sentinels of inland water ecosystem health” should be augmented in tune with current research trends in montane “sky islands” especially from adjacent Oriental tropics.

Functional diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in streams in mining areas located in the Eastern Amazon

Functional diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in streams in mining areas located in the Eastern Amazon

Predator Diversity of Mayflies from Kolhapur District, India

Predator Diversity of Mayflies from Kolhapur District, India

Diversity, phenology and distribution of mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera) along an altitudinal gradient in two permanent Wadis of Algeria

ABSTRACT The taxonomy of mayflies in Wadis of Seybouse and Kebir-Rhumel in Algeria is poorly studied since a long time. This research aimed at studying diversity and distribution of Ephemeroptera fauna at the Kebir-Rhumel and Seybouse Wadis. Using a hand net, mayfly larvae were collected from the running waters along an upstream–downstream gradient at seven sites in Kebir-Rhumel Wadi (altitude range = 677‒0.7 m) and 10 sites in Seybouse Wadi (altitude range = 622‒20.7 m). Samplings totalled 399 larvae classified into eight species belonging to eight genera and six families. Two species (Ecdyonurus rothschildi and Choroterpes (Choroterpes) atlas are endemic to the Maghreb). Caenis luctuosa, Baetis pavidus, Cloeon cf. dipterum and Ephemera glaucops occurred in both Wadis. Choroterpes atlas and Potamanthus luteus were exclusive to the watershed of Wadi Kebir-Rhumel and Ecdyonurus rothschildi and Labiobaetis neglectus were exclusive to Seybouse Wadi. In both Wadis, mayfly diversity increased in sites with dense vegetation and large bed width which offers a wide heterogeneity of habitats. Following regional IUCN Red Lists in Europe, E. glaucops has a critical conservation status, whereas Potamanthus luteus is near threatened. Our findings represent the first check-list of Ephemeroptera in northeastern Algeria Wadis, which are still not sufficiently charted.

The first step towards a DNA barcode reference database for mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Slovakia

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) represent a small but diverse order of amphibiotic insects, whose larvae contribute to several essential processes in freshwater habitats, such as bioturbation and bioirrigation, decomposition, nutrient cycling, and also serve as a primary source of nutrients for numerous organisms. Due to their cosmopolitan distribution and high-quality water requirements, they are also important indicators of ecosystem health and an integral part of biomonitoring protocols. Although the Slovak mayfly fauna is well researched, studies on genetic diversity, including DNA barcoding, are still lacking. The absence of the comprehensive DNA barcode reference libraries from various biogeographical regions and the presence of so-called cryptic lineages may prevent further efficient use and application of new approaches to aquatic ecosystem biomonitoring (Biomonitoring 2.0) based on eDNA analyses. Therefore, in the initial stage of our research, we bring the first insight into the genetic diversity of mayflies (based on mtDNA COI-5P barcoding fragment) from 47 localities of Slovakia mostly situated in the biogeographically significant Western Carpathians' territory. A total of 403 sequences of 42 morphologically determined species were added to the BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) database, representing more than 1/3 of the mayfly fauna of Slovakia and covering 10 of 16 families. Sequences of these species were finally assigned to 62 BINs (Barcode Index Numbers) in BOLD (Fig. 1), whereby sequences of 12 species were divided into more than one BIN, indicating the presence of cryptic lineages. The largest number of BINs was represented by widely distributed species such as Baetis rhodani Pictet, 1843-1845 (6 BINs), Habroleptoides confusa Sartori & Jacob, 1986 (4 BINs) and Ecdyonurus venosus (Fabricius, 1775) (3 BINs). The sequences of the remaining nine species were split into two BINs. Maximum intraspecific variability (calculated by K2P) of some representatives was surprisingly high [e.g., E. venosus – 27.1 %; Baetis muticus (Linneaus, 1758) – 23.6 %; Caenis luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839) – 23.34 %, Baetis rhodani – 18.66 % and B. vernus Curtis, 1834 – 15.25 %] and far exceeded the level of intraspecific variability of the COI fragment based on the BOLD standards. The sequences of 23 individuals determined as Habroleptoides confusa, Baetis rhodani, B. buceratus Eaton, 1870, Caenis beskidensis Sowa, 1973 and Torleya major (Klapálek, 1905) created seven unique BINs, which represent the distant phylogenetic lineages of already existing BINs, that are currently unique to Slovakia. The coexistence of Baetis rhodani individuals of two different BINs was confirmed at five localities. Our study indicates clear importance of more detailed sampling and DNA barcoding due to the presence of unexpected intraspecific genetic diversity of mayflies captured in a relatively small area of the Western Carpathians.

The role of hydro-environmental factors in Mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) community structure: Identifying threshold responses.

Freshwater organisms are threatened by changes in stream flow and water temperature regimes due to global climate change and anthropogenic activities. Threats include the disappearance of narrow‐tolerance species and loss of favorable thermal conditions for cold‐adapted organisms. Mayflies are an abundant and diverse indicator of river health that performs important functional roles. The relative importance of key hydro‐environmental factors such as water temperature and flow volumes in structuring these communities has rarely been explored in the tropical regions of Africa. Here, we investigate the response of mayfly species diversity to these factors in the Luvuvhu catchment, a strategic water source area in the arid northeastern region of South Africa. Mayfly larvae were sampled monthly in stones‐in‐current biotopes across 23 sites over a one‐year period. The relationship between these environmental drivers and mayfly diversity was modeled using linear mixed effects models (LMMs) and a model‐based multivariate approach. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) was used to model the response of mayfly species to important gradients and identify thresholds of change. Site‐specific characteristic were the most important predictor of mayfly diversity, and there was considerable variation over time, with mayfly diversity peaking during winter. Along this, gradient temperature was the best predictor of assemblage structure, with five out of six reliable indicator species being cold‐adapted, and a community threshold response at 19°C. Results support laboratory‐based thresholds of temperature for mayfly species survival and development, extending empirical evidence to include field‐based observations. Increased global (climate change) and local (riparian vegetation removal, impoundments) changes are predicted to have negative impacts on mayfly diversity and ultimately on ecosystem function.

Temporal variation of mayfly community (Ephemeroptera) in response to ecological attributes in Gadana river, Tamilnadu, India

In the study of diversity and distribution of Ephemeroptera in Gadana River and relationship between Ephemeropteran community and ecological factors, revealed a total of 2056 specimens belonging to 25 genera and 7 families. The diversity and distribution of Ephemeroptera were higher during the rainy season, contrasted with non-rainy period. The high scores of Shannon index and Simpson’s index indicate that Gadana River is hale and healthy and it bolsters more diverse taxa. The pH values accomplish greatest range in the months of January and August; it legitimately impacts on diversity of mayflies. Leptophlebiidae and Baetidae were the most ubiquitous families present in the Gadana River. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) shows that rainfall, pH, DO and water temperature were to be the significant stressor in altering the community structure of mayflies.

Mayfly (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) assemblages of a regulated perennial Mediterranean river system in the Western Balkans

AbstractThe influences of river regulations on aquatic biota are insufficiently investigated. We assessed the level of ecological disturbance of the mayfly assemblages through the damming and flow alterations at two highly regulated Mediterranean rivers in Croatia: the Cetina River and its tributary, the Ruda. Contrary to our hypotheses, species richness, abundance and diversity of mayflies increased along the river’s course. At the sites directly influenced by the river regulations, mayfly assemblage changed: it was less diverse and less abundant. However, no obvious influence of the river regulation on the mayfly assemblages was detected for the sites that were indirectly influenced by these alterations. This was most likely due to specific karst hydrology, i.e., the presence of lateral springs along the course of the river. Multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) revealed grouping of sites according to the similarity in physico-chemical water properties. The pH and water temperature were the most important environmental variables influencing mayfly assemblages. The data on ecology and distribution of mayflies presented in the current study represent a valuable background for further research and conservation practices in the Mediterranean region.

DNA barcoding of Corsican mayflies (Ephemeroptera) with implications on biogeography, systematics and biodiversity

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are known to generally present a high degree of insular endemism: half of the 28 species known from Corsica and Sardinia are considered as endemic. We sequenced the DNA barcode (a fragment of the mitochondrial CO1 gene) of 349 specimens from 50 localities in Corsica, Sardinia, continental Europe and North Africa. We reconstructed gene trees of eight genera or species groups representing the main mayfly families. Alternative topologies were built to test if our reconstructions suggested a single or multiple Corsican/ Sardinian colonization event(s) in each genus or species group. A molecular clock calibrated with different evolution rates was used to try to link speciation processes with geological events. Our results confirm the high degree of endemism of Corsican and Sardinian mayflies and the close relationship between these two faunas. Moreover, we have evidence that the mayfly diversity of the two islands is highly underestimated as at least six new putative species occur on the two islands. We demonstrated that the Corsican and Sardinian mayfly fauna reveals a complex history mainly related to geological events. The Messinian Salinity Crisis, which is thought to have reduced marine barriers, thus facilitating gene flow between insular and continental populations, was detected as the most important event in the speciation of most lineages. Vicariance processes related to the split and rotation of the Corso-Sardinian microplate had a minor impact as they involved only two genera with limited dispersal and ecological range. Colonization events posterior to the Messinian Salinity Crisis had only marginal effects as we had indication of recent gene flow only in two clades. With very limited recent gene flow and a high degree of endemism, mayflies from Corsica and Sardinia present all the criteria for conservation prioritization.

DNA barcode assessment of Mediterranean mayflies (Ephemeroptera), benchmark data for a regional reference library for rapid biomonitoring of freshwaters

Accurate identification of aquatic species is fundamental to freshwater research. In this paper, we targeted Ephemeroptera, a key taxonomic insect group for biomonitoring of water bodies and present an overview on the efficacy of the DNA barcoding approach to document species identity in the Mediterranean region. We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) in 39 nominal species. Sample discrimination and species identification were investigated by evaluating haplotype identity and similarity, intra-/interspecific genetic distances, optimal identification of barcoding gap thresholds, estimates of species monophyly and comparative species matches on available reference libraries. The resolving power of the obtained data was discussed in the light of statistical tools such as Spider R-package and Poisson Tree Processes. High levels of species identification were achieved with all the used methodologies, and the occurrence of cryptic species was suggested. We conclude that DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for taxonomic research in Mediterranean mayflies, with great promise to ameliorate biodiversity inventories of freshwater ecosystems and to provide the necessary accuracy for water quality assessment programs. Our results further indicated we need to upgrade the current regional mayfly diversity knowledge. The development of a Mediterranean reference library could integrate this new information system.

New data on the distribution and ecology of the mayfly larvae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of Serbia (central part of the Balkan Peninsula)

This work is a contribution to the knowledge of the Ephemeroptera (Insecta) fauna of the central Balkan Peninsula. A total of 85 mayfly species (31 genera and 12 families) were reported. The largest number of mayfly species was recorded within the Ju?na and Zapadna Morava river basins, while the lowest taxa richness was observed within the Sava basin. The highest diversity was observed in hilly mountainous regions due to the general environmental requirements of the majority of mayfly taxa, as well as the distribution of anthropogenic stress. Lowland areas have been more exposed to different stress factors that could reduce mayfly taxa richness in comparison to the hilly mountainous region located south of the Danube and Sava rivers. Compared with species richness in neighbouring countries, the expected mayfly diversity for Serbia is certainly higher; it has been estimated that over 100 taxa should occur in different types of aquatic ecosystems.

The effects of environmental integrity on the diversity of mayflies, Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera), in tropical streams of the Brazilian Cerrado

Aquatic insects are widely distributed, and are especially diverse and abundant in tropical streams, where they play an important role in the food chain due to their diversity of feeding strategies, and the potential for the transfer of energy between aquatic and terrestrial environments. The intimate relationship found between these insects and environmental variables means that they are often used as bioindicatorss in environmental studies. We tested the hypothesis that the loss of environmental integrity in tropical streams will lead to a loss of species and a decline in the abundance of mayflies (Leptophlebiidae), in addition to a change in species composition, and the dynamics of population. Collect immature leptophlebiids in 18 streams representing different degrees of conservation, in the Brazilian Cerrado. The environmental integrity of the sites was assessed using a Habitat Integrity Index (HII), which generates values of zero (degraded) to one (preserved), based on soil use, the extension and conservation of riparian forest, as well as morphological features of the stream. A total of 4945 immature leptophlebiids were collected and identified as belonging to 16 species or morphospecies. On an average, a reduction of 0.1 in the value of the HII led to the loss of five specimens and one species. The composition of the communities varied systematically along the environmental gradient, with more sensitive species being found only when the index was above a threshold of 0.6. The importance of the riparian vegetation for the aquatic biota, especially its role in the mitigation of impacts from the surrounding matrix, supports the universal conservation of this type of habitat.

Primeiro levantamento da fauna de Ephemeroptera (Insecta) do Espírito Santo, Sudeste do Brasil

A partir de coletas realizadas entre 2008 e 2009 no Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Reserva Biológica de Sooretama, entre outras áreas do Espírito Santo, apresentamos o primeiro levantamento da fauna de Ephemeroptera do estado. A despeito do seu pequeno tamanho, pois a área do estado representa apenas 0,53% do território nacional, uma surpreendente diversidade de Ephemeroptera foi encontrada. Ao todo foram identificadas 76 espécies, 41 gêneros e nove famílias, que representam aproximadamente 25% das espécies brasileiras, 65% dos gêneros e quase todas as famílias ocorrentes no Brasil. Destes táxons, 17 espécies (a maioria de Baetidae e Leptophlebiidae) são novos para a ciência. Cinco espécies, coletadas apenas no estágio ninfal, não puderam ser identificadas. O presente trabalho demonstra que, como para muitos organismos, a diversidade de Ephemeroptera para o estado é alta e mais pesquisas sobre a composição faunística de insetos aquáticos no Espírito Santo devem ser incentivadas.

The family Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera): synthesis and future challenges

The systematics of the Baetidae has been the subject of much attention during the last three decades, with descriptions of new species and genera as well as several generic revisions. The family now encompasses about 100 genera and 900 species which constitute one-quarter of the world's mayfly diversity. It is thus an opportune time to evaluate the pertinence of these works. The diversity of the Baetidae of the different realms is discussed with emphasis on the rate of endemism and biogeographic affinities. We have also tried to identify the geographical areas where we need more data. The Afrotropics and Neotropics possess the most diversified fauna with the highest degree of endemism. The faunas of the Palaearctic and Nearctic realms are better known but are less diversified especially at a generic level. Oriental and Australasian faunas are still poorly known but are expected to be diversified especially in the tropical regions.

Effects of thermal regime on mayfly assemblages in mountain streams

The variation in thermal regime and elevation among streams in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, USA was used to test hypotheses about forces structuring larval mayfly assemblages. Sites above and below lakes were included to maximize variation in thermal regime. Forty-five sites were sampled for mayfly larvae and their summer thermal regime was measured. Ordination methods were used to analyze variation in the mayfly assemblages. Principal components analysis showed that mayfly assemblages were strongly and consistently affected by lakes within the stream system, apparently through the effects of lakes on stream temperature. Redundancy analysis explained 51% of the variation in assemblages and identified maximum water temperature and elevation as strong predictors of mayfly assemblages. Elevation influenced assemblage structure independently of summer maximum water temperature, suggesting that air temperature or some other elevation-dependent feature is also important. As predicted by the River Continuum Concept, mayfly diversity increased with increasing maximum daily range in temperature.

Global diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in freshwater

The extant global Ephemeroptera fauna is represented by over 3,000 described species in 42 families and more than 400 genera. The highest generic diversity occurs in the Neotropics, with a correspondingly high species diversity, while the Palaearctic has the lowest generic diversity, but a high species diversity. Such distribution patterns may relate to how long evolutionary processes have been carrying on in isolation in a bioregion. Over an extended period, there may be extinction of species, but evolution of more genera. Dramatic extinction events such as the K-T mass extinction have affected current mayfly diversity and distribution. Climatic history plays an important role in the rate of speciation in an area, with regions which have been climatically stable over long periods having fewer species per genus, when compared to regions subjected to climatic stresses, such as glaciation. A total of 13 families are endemic to specific bioregions, with eight among them being monospecific. Most of these have restricted distributions which may be the result of them being the relict of a previously more diverse, but presently almost completely extinct family, or may be the consequence of vicariance events, resulting from evolution due to long-term isolation.

Preliminary survey of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera) of Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park

The mayfly (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) and caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) fauna of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are reported based upon numerous records. For mayflies, sixteen species representing four families and twelve genera are reported. By comparison, thirty-five species of caddisflies were collected during this study representing seventeen genera and nine families. Although the Rio Grande supports the greatest diversity of mayflies (n=9) and caddisflies (n=14), numerous spring-fed creeks throughout the park also support a wide variety of species. A general lack of data on the distribution and abundance of invertebrates in Big Bend National and State Park is discussed, along with the importance of continuing this type of research.