Plecopteran Species Research Articles

Distribution patterns and vulnerability of stoneflies (Plecoptera: Insecta) in South Korean streams with conservation perspectives

Biodiversity loss and conservation are major issues at global and regional scales. Plecopteran species have limited distribution areas and are vulnerable to environmental changes. In this study, we evaluated the distribution patterns and environmental characteristics of plecopteran assemblages in South Korean streams to consider the conservation of plecopteran diversity. We used plecopteran assemblage data with environmental data including 32 environmental variables in six categories (geography, meteorology, land use, substrate composition, hydrology, and water quality) surveyed at 412 sampling sites distributed on a nationwide scale in South Korean streams. Self-organizing map classified sampling sites into seven clusters according to the similarities of assemblages. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to characterize the relationship between assemblages and abiotic environmental variables. The abundance of 32 plecopteran taxa recorded in the dataset displayed a positive relationship with the number of their occurrence sites, and most species, including the dominant ones, had low abundances in limited distribution areas. More than 78% (25 out of 32) of the recorded plecopteran species were listed in the Korean Red List of Threatened Species, including 17 taxa in the least concern category. The NMDS results presented the habitat preference of species, and the major influential factors from six environmental categories were elevation, maximum temperature in July, proportion of forest in land-use type, proportion of cobbles in substrate, proportion of riffle in flow condition, and turbidity in physicochemical water quality. The results revealed that plecopteran species were diverse and abundant in cold and undisturbed running water on rocky substrates near mountain forests. The dominant species generally displayed similar habitat conditions. However, their habitat preferences varied depending on the species, with different sensitivities and responses to temperature and hydrological flow conditions. Finally, our results revealed that the plecopteran species in South Korea are mostly vulnerable and endangered, and extensive protection policies covering the stream channel and the surrounding areas are required to preserve their biodiversity.

A Study of Leuctridae (Insecta: Plecoptera) from Shennongjia, Hubei Province, China

Plecopteran species of the family Leuctridae were collected and studied from the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Hubei Province, China. Seven species were collected from Shennongjia belonging to 2 genera, and including 1 new species and 1 new record for the province, both within the genus Rhopalopsole. Rhopalopsole memorabilis sp. nov. is described and a redescription of R. apicispina Yang & Yang, 1991 is provided.

Peripatric origin of the only cave-restricted stonefly species known (Insecta: Plecoptera)

Cave animals have evolved specialised morphological and behavioural adaptations to a dark and stable environment. When their ancestors were surface species living in continental climates, and thus adapted to annual changes from extreme cold to extreme warm periods; it is highly intriguing how adaptation to cave stable temperature took place. The phylogenetic history of the cave animal can thus help to understand the kind of adaptation process undergone in such a different environment. Here we perform a mitochondrial DNA-based phylogeny for the only Palearctic cave-restricted plecopteran species (Protonemura gevi), whose geographic range is limited to a single cave in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, also including four other Iberian and Moroccan Protonemura species and two other species from different genera as outgroup taxa. Our results indicate that P. gevi shows a genetic distance with P. culmenis being an order of magnitude lower than those with the remaining Protonemura species. Using a relaxed molecular clock, phylogeny dating suggests that their common ancestor probably lived 1.4 million years ago, i.e. during Pleistocene. P. culmenis currently lives in the Pyrenees, so that it is conceivable that this species (or the common ancestor of both) migrated to a southern refuge during one of Pleistocene glaciations, and a few individuals remained isolated within the Siles cave managing to live in such new and different environmental conditions. We thus conclude that the peripatric origin of P. gevi was associated with Pleistocene glaciations, and that its adaptation to cave conditions was quite rapid.

지리산 주요 수계의 저서성 대형무척추동물 군집분포의 특성

Abstract We have studied characteristics of community structure on the benthic macro-invertebrates at twelve selected sites in upstream, midstream and downstream of Paemsagol, Piagol, Chilseongol and Daeseonggol, major streams of Jirisan Mountain, for three years from April 2008 to September 2010. As a result, 2 phyla, 3 classes, 11 orders, 41 families, 119 species and 4,449 individuals of benthic macro-invertebrates have been collected and classified in this study. Among them EPT group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), commonly appearing taxa in clean stream ecosystem, was found most frequently. The highest species number of benthic macro-invertebrates were collected in 2008, the year with lower climatic influence including heavy rain. In almost all of survey sites 80% or over of EPT group were counted, and St. 1 scored highest rate of EPT group at 92.59%. Most dominant species was Ecdyonurus kibumensis at 12.83% of dominance index, and subdominant species was Goerodes KUb at 6.81% of dominance index. The investigation of the feeding function group indicated that gathering-collectors were dominant with 26 species and 1,334 individuals, while the number of filtering-collectors was lowest with 11 species and 230 individuals. This result represents that the feeding function group of Jirisan Mountain is mountainous stream-specific one. Both diversity index and richness index were lowest at the midstream of Chilseongol (St. 5), while the midstreams of Daeseonggol (St. 11) and Piagol (St. 8) were highest in diversity and richness indices respectively. The analyses of linear regression and correlation were performed in order to investigate and to predict the appearance aspect of EPT group by altitude. The results showed that the ratio of Plecopteran species number has increased by the elevation of the altitude at 0.05 significance level. Cluster analysis was also carried out for evaluating environmental similarities among survey sites. As a result, upper regions of Paemsagol (St. 1) and Piagol have clustered as most similar sites each other, while the midstream of Piagol (St. 8) has separated with lower similarity value than other sites in species composition.

A new stonefly species, Rhopalopsole tricuspis (Leuctridae: Plecoptera), and three new records of stoneflies from the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi, China.

Plecopteran species (Leuctridae) were collected from the Qinling Mountains in southern Shaanxi Province, China. This mountain range is home to nine species of Leuctridae belonging to two genera, and the species identified in this work include one new species and three new records for the Qinling Mountains, all belonging to the genus Rhopalopsole. The new species is named R. tricuspis Qian and Du, sp. nov. A redescription of R. basinigra Yang and Yang 1995 is supplemented. A key is provided for the adult males of Leuctridae from the Qinling Mountains.

The effect of dispersal ability in winter and summer stoneflies on their genetic differentiation

Abstract 1. Plecopteran species disperse less than most other aquatic insects. Within stoneflies, members of different families vary in the degree of wing morphology and season of adult emergence.2. Dispersal limitations were tested to determine if there were increased differences among the nearby, Chagrin and Grand River populations in north‐eastern Ohio, by comparing genetic variation within the 16s rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA in two stoneflies. Allocapnia recta emerges in winter and often has rudimentary wings, and Leuctra tenuis emerges in summer with fully developed wings.3. There was significant genetic variability between the samples of A. recta from two adjacent rivers (FST = 0.20), but not between samples of L. tenuis (FST = 0.07).4. Distinct clades in A. recta were found to occur within the minimum spanning tree specific to the Chagrin River, which contributed to a significant difference in gene diversity between the two rivers. Haplotypes in L. tenuis appeared randomly distributed between the two rivers; however, nucleotide diversity was significantly less in samples from the Grand River.5. Shared haplotypes of both species illustrate the inter‐connectedness of the Chagrin and Grand River populations, and the lower genetic variability of L. tenuis between the two rivers is indicative of its greater dispersal capability.

Diversity of stonefly hexamerins and implication for the evolution of insect storage proteins

Hexamerins are large storage proteins of insects in the 500 kDa range that evolved from the copper-containing hemocyanins. Hexamerins have been found at high concentration in the hemolymph of many insect taxa, but have remained unstudied in relatively basal taxa. To obtain more detailed insight about early hexamerin evolution, we have studied hexamerins in stoneflies (Plecoptera). Stoneflies are also the only insects for which a functional hemocyanin is known to co-occur with hexamerins in the hemolymph. Here, we identified hexamerins in five plecopteran species and obtained partial cDNA sequences from Perla marginata (Perlidae), Nemoura sp. (Nemouridae), Taeniopteryx burksi (Taeniopterygidae), Allocapnia vivipara (Capniidae), and Diamphipnopsis samali (Diamphipnoidae). At least four distinct hexamerins are present in P. marginata. The full-length cDNA of one hexamerin subunit was obtained (PmaHex1) that measures 2475 bp and translates into a native polypeptide of 702 amino acids. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the plecopteran hexamerins are monophyletic and positioned at the base of the insect hexamerin tree, probably diverging about 360 million years ago. Within the Plecoptera, distinct hexamerin types evolved before the divergence of the families. Mapping amino acid compositions onto the phylogenetic tree shows that the accumulation of aromatic amino acids (and thus the evolution of “arylphorins”) commenced soon after the hexamerins diverged from hemocyanins, but also indicates that hexamerins with distinct amino acid compositions reflect secondary losses of aromatic amino acids.

Stream invertebrate communities of Campbell Island.

Invertebrates at 20 sites on 19 Campbell Island streams were sampled over the Austral summer of 1996/97. Twelve of the 16 benthic invertebrate taxa known from the island were collected. The most abundant group was the Crustacea, which included an isopod (Notidotea lacustris) and two amphipods, one belonging to the family Eusiridae and one to the suborder Gammaridea. Five species of Diptera were found (three chironomids; Orthocladiinae sp., Chironominae sp. and Maoridiamesa insularis, as well as an empidid and a simuliid Austrosimulium campbellense ). One trichopteran, the hydroptilid caddis Oxyethira albicepsand two plecopteran species Rungaperla campbelliand R. longicauda and unidentified Oligochaetes were also collected. In general, Campbell Island streams are stable, deeply incised, have unusually high salinity from wind-blown sea spray and a unique benthic invertebrate fauna. With the exception of high altitude streams with large boulders which had invertebrate communities dominated by Crustacea and the endemic stonefly of the genus Rungaperla, none of the measured environmental variables or geographic location could explain the distinctive communities found. The species-poor stream fauna and the absence of many invertebrate families commonly found on mainland New Zealand appears to be related to the extreme isolation and geological history of the island.

Plecopteran communities and annual emergence in five forest streams and two lake outlet streams of central Finland

The plecopteran fauna was studied by means of slit traps and hand net during the summers of 1982-1987. A total of 19 plecopteran species comprising c. 4 500 adults and c. 2 900 larvae were sampled in streams. Of these, Capnia atra, Capnopsis schilleri, Nemurella pictetii and Isoperla difformis were recorded for the first time in the streams of the province Pohjois-Häme (Tb). The plecopteran fauna was richest in the small forest streams and relatively poor in the largest outlet. Both, the character of the stream bed and the quantity and quality of food available seemed to be the most important factors affecting the occurrence of the plecopteran species. In the brooks the emergence of stoneflies had two clear maxima: one in spring and another in late autumn. Vernal species were Taeniopteryx nebulosa, Isoperla difformis, Nemoura avicularis, N. flexuosa and Leuctra hippo pus. Dominant species in the autumnal cathes were Leuctrafusca and Leuctra digitata. In the outlet streams the succession of emergence was somewhat different owing to the weak emergence and due to the cold summer with strong floods in 1987. The slit trap method worked well in the catching of stoneflies except during the snow melting seasons and the flood periods.

Insects of a small aestival stream in northern Sweden

The insects of a small and cold aestival stream in northern Sweden were studied from semiquantitative kick-samples taken every ten days throughout the ice-free season in 1987. The stream froze solid at least in some sections in some winters. In addition to dipterans that were only identified to the family level, five ephemeropteran, four plecopteran, 11 coleopteran (Dytiscidae), and four trichopteran (Limnephilidae) species were found. Baetis bundyae Lemkuhl, Heptagenia orbiticola Kluge (Ephemeroptera), Nemoura cinerea (Retzius) (Plecoptera), Hydroporus palustris (L), Agabus setulosus (J. Sahlberg) (Coleoptera), Anabolia concentrica (Zetterstedt), Limnephilus coenosus Curtis, and Micopterna sequax McLachlan (Trichoptera) were all common. Malaise trap data are given for Plecoptera. The two ephemeropteran species Heptagenia orbiticola and Metretopus alter Bengtsson, and the plecopteran species Nemoura viki Lillehammer were recorded for the first time in Sweden. The remarkable species composition was attributed to the harsh abiotic and poorly studied environment. We predicted that the larval composition of this stream was representative for aestival streams in northernmost Fennoscandia.

Discontinuities in the distribution of invertebrates in impounded south island rivers, New Zealand

AbstractThe invertebrate fauna of 10 river systems, five with impoundments and five without, were sampled. No significant difference was found either in taxonomic richness or invertebrate densities between impounded and unimpounded sites at similar positions along river continua. However, plecopteran species richness was significantly lower and plecopteran density reduced in post‐impoundment sites. Densities of Deleatidium spp. (Ephemeroptera: Leptephlebiidae) were significantly lower at lake outlets compared with other sites. Two species of Zelandobius (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) and Eriopterini (Diptera: Tipulidae) snowed distributions apparently curtailed by impoundments, whereas Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Mollusca: Hydrobiidae) had an extended distribution. Margalef's, Menhinick's, Berger‐Parker and Shannon indices, total taxa present and plecopteran taxa were plotted against stream order, stream width and distance from the source. Menhinick's and Shannon‐Weaver indices produced statistically significant but weak regressions, and discontinuity distances and intensity could not be accurately calculated. The usefulness of diversity indices as a measure of the magnitude of impoundment effects in the South Island seems to be limited.

Invertebrate colonization of a new, man‐made stream in southern Sweden

SUMMARY. The invertebrate colonization of a man‐made stream, Flugströmmen, in southern Sweden was monitored for 18 months in 1988 and 1989. Benthic samples were taken on twelve occasions from three sites (upstream, middle and downstream) and community structure was compared with that at ten natural, permanent reference sites nearby. The number of species colonizing increased rapidly during the first 3 months. The increase was most rapid upstream but levelled off during the second year at this site, while numbers continued to increase downstream. Simuliid species were the earliest colonizers and reached high densities at upstream and middle sites during the first year. Ephemeropteran and plecopteran species also occurred early on, whereas Coleoptera, Odonata and Trichoptera were, on average, slower to colonize. Blackfly densities decreased upstream after the first year and hydropsychids became numerically dominant. The colonization order of functional feeding groups was as predicted: filter feeders first, grazers/collectors intermediate, predators and shredders last. After a year, the community structure in Flugströmmen closely resembled that in lake‐outlet streams situated in the area, although communities at the three sites within the stream were most similar to one another. The possible role of competitive and predatory processes in determining the observed successional patterns are discussed.

Forests and the temperature of upland streams in Wales: a modelling exploration of the biological effects

SUMMARY. 1. Daily temperature data from six streams in upland Wales were used to explore the thermal effects of afforestation on stream ecology. The data were linked to published biological models to simulate fish and invertebrate development.2. Mean daily temperatures in forest streams were lower than those of moorland streams in spring and summer, and higher in winter. These spatial comparisons were supported by the results of experimental bank‐side clearance at a forest site, where there was evidence that stream temperatures fell in winter and rose in spring following treatment.3. Simulations indicated that brown trout (Salmo trutta) could weigh over 30% more by the end of their second growing season in a moorland compared with a forest stream. Several species of insects showed slower simulated egg development at forest sites. For two ephemeropteran species simulated nymphal growth was also retarded, suggesting significant alterations to the life cycle. Two plecopteran species were affected only slightly by the different temperature regimes.4. Overall, the simulations suggested that afforestation, by reducing summer temperatures, could lead to marked reductions in rates of development of some invertebrates and fish.

The Plecoptera of Øvre Heimdalsvatn

The stonefly fauna was studied in the exposed zone and on soft bottom in deeper waters. Emergence was recorded by traps. Ten species were found. All were recorded in the exposed zone. Diura bicaudata (L.) and Nemoura avicularis Morton dominated.During the winter N avicularis occurred in large numbers on soft bottom at nearly all depths while D. bicaudata was only recorded on stony substratum in shallow water. N. avicularis was therefore more susceptible to predation and was recorded in trout stomachs during most of the year, while D. bicaudata was preyed upon only during the short emergence and flight period.The growth of the most numerous plecopteran species took place partly while the lake was covered by ice. D. bicaudata had two thirds of its growth during this period, while N. avicularis only had one third of its growth during the same period.