Effect of mining on the EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) assemblage of Amazonian streams based on their environmental specificity

Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera: Insecta) in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Despite these discrepancies with other states and regions of Brazil, there are very positive initiatives happening in the Amazon, such as, for instance, a faunal inventories study of Ephemeroptera in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, which has brought considerable advances in the knowledge of species diversity in the region, with 13 new records for the state and the description of a new species (de Oliveira et al, 2023). Although the number of ecological studies on the order Ephemeroptera in the Northern region has increased significantly (Cardoso et al, 2015; Enríquez‐Espinosa et al, 2020; Lima et al, 2022; Rivera‐Pérez et al, 2023; Shimano & Juen, 2016; Shimano et al, 2021), most of these studies use the aquatic immature phase and restrict taxonomic identification to the genus level. This is due to limitations in nymph identification, such as a lack of trained taxonomists, a high number of unknown species, small body size and different instars in the nymphs, making it challenging to accurately distinguish species (Cardoso et al, 2023; Gomes et al, 2022), especially when conducted by non‐specialists.…”

“…The combination of factors such as overexploitation, introduction of non‐native species, water pollution, artificial management of water flows, habitat degradation and loss and climate change (Dudgeon et al, 2006; Heino et al, 2009; Jacobus et al, 2019) exerts significant pressures on aquatic ecosystems, resulting in profound changes in biotic and abiotic conditions. This negatively impacts aquatic insects of the Order Ephemeroptera, which are sensitive indicators of environmental quality changes (Cardoso et al, 2018; Enríquez‐Espinosa et al, 2020; Rivera‐Pérez et al, 2022).…”