Chironomid assemblages in high altitude streams of the Andean region of Peru

Assessing the effects of climate and volcanism on diatom and chironomid assemblages in an Andean lake near Quito, Ecuador

“…Changes to the precipitation regime may result in a greater proportion of these terrestrial and semi-terrestrial taxa being washed into the lake. In support of this hypothesis, Coynoneura, which also increases in recent sediment, was found to be more abundant during the rainy season in high altitude streams of the Peruvian Andes (Acosta and Prat, 2010). Likewise, an increase in Rheotanytarsus, which is commonly found in small rivers and streams, suggests an increase in running waters or streamflow to this site.…”

“…These genera are common throughout the Andes and have been described across a wide variety of habitats (Acosta and Prat, 2010;Ruiz et al, 2000aRuiz et al, , 2000bOspina et al, 2000). In general, Polypedilum is considered typical of warm conditions (Larocque et al, 2001;Eggermont et al, 2010;Woodward and Schulmeister 2006), whereas Orthocladius and Riethia are commonly described as being cold tolerant (Eggermont and Heiri 2012;Massaferro et al, 2009).…”

Distribution, Abundance and Molecular Analysis of Genus Barbadocladius Cranston & Krosch (Diptera, Chironomidae) in Tropical, High Altitude Andean Streams and Rivers

“…Additional material from Barbadocladius was present in benthic and drift samples from three different basins in Peru from our previous studies, two sites in the Cañete river (Acosta & Prat 2010), two sites in the Mosna river and one site in the Colca river (Villamarín 2012 (Table 2). In the first case, benthic samples were taken with a D net, and in the second case with a Surber sample (following the same methodology of the BIQURA project described earlier).…”

“…We have included data from our present and past research projects, including the Ph.D. thesis of R. Acosta (Acosta & Prat 2010) and C. Villamarín (unpublished data). Of the 17 basins listed in Table 1, a selection of 8 were sampled for molecular analysis as part of the BIQURA project: (1) 4 tributaries of the Amazon river that eventually drains into Atlantic Ocean (eastern range) and (2) 4 rivers delivering their water to the Pacific Ocean (western range).…”

“…In our previous studies of Chironomidae biodiversity in streams in the highland Andes from Peru to Colombia, we have occasionally found larvae and pupae of Barbadocladius, but never in great abundance (Acosta & Prat 2010, Villamarín 2012. Recently, in a project specifically dealing with Chironomidae distribution and molecular variability in the Andes over 2,000 m asl from the central part of Colombia to southern Peru (project BIQURA, =BI odiversidad de QU ironómidos de R íos A ltoandinos, http://www.ub.edu/ riosandes/index.php/biqura.html), we collected more specimens of genus Barbadocladius.…”