Global diversity of stoneflies (Plecoptera; Insecta) in freshwater

Abstract

Plecoptera, or stoneflies, is a small order of hemimetabolous insects: according to our data, more than 3,497 species have been described so far in the world. The total number of species has enormously increased in the last 30 years (2,000 species estimated in 1976) and, if the trend continues, then it will nearly double in the near future. The order is divided into the suborders Arctoperlaria and Antarctoperlaria, and includes 16 families: 12 arctoperlarian and 4 antarctoperlarian. The Arctoperlaria account for a total number of 3,179 species, and Antarctoperlaria, only 318 species. The total number of genera is 286. We give in this article the estimated number of species for each family. The fauna and diversity of stonefly in North America (650 species reported) and Europe (426 species) are best known. Nevertheless, in the last 25 years, a mean of 2.6 Plecoptera species per year were described in Europe. Stonefly-faunas of Australia (191 species, Tasmania included) and New Zealand (104 species) are relatively well-known, while our knowledge of the Plecoptera of Central and South America (95 and 378 species respectively) is poor and still not representative of the real diversity. Africa has a reduced stonefly fauna (126 species). Asian stonefly diversity (approximately 1,527 species) is much greater than that of Europe or North America despite the fact that, except for Japan and Asiatic Russia that have been well studied, our knowledge of the remaining Asiatic areas is extremely poor. Even though our data indicate the Holarctic Region as the diversity hot-spot for the order, the analysis of the specific diversity divided by family suggests also an important role of tropical stoneflies.

Environmental drivers influencing stonefly assemblages along a longitudinal gradient in karst lotic habitats

“…P. auberti, L. prima, L. pusilla, Taeniopteryx hubaulti) (Graf et al, 2009(Graf et al, , 2017, relating to favourable environmental conditions (i.e. low water temperature and high oxygen concentration; Hynes, 1976;Fochetti and Tierno de Figueroa, 2008;Zwick, 2011) and the wide range of suitable habitats (Riđanović and Božićević, 1996;Miliša et al, 2010). The differences in abundance and taxa richness between the two studied years could be attributed to the variability of environmental conditions, especially water temperature and discharge, as already shown in some other studies (Zwick, 2011;Ivković et al, 2012Ivković et al, , 2014Vilenica et al, 2017a).…”

“…Stoneflies (Plecoptera) inhabit a wide range of water qualities which is why they are widely used as bio-indicators of the health of freshwater ecosystems (Lenat, 1993;Walsh et al, 2007;Heino et al, 2009). Nevertheless, they were recognized as one of the most sensitive groups of aquatic invertebrates, occurring mainly in pristine habitats with high water quality (Hynes, 1976;Fochetti and Tierno de Figueroa, 2008;Stewart and Stark, 2008). Most nymphs live mainly in cold, welloxygenated running waters, although some species have also been recorded from lakes (Lillehammer, 1978;Donald and Anderson, 1980;Saettem and Brittain, 1985;Fochetti and Tierno de Figueroa, 2008;DeWalt et al, 2012).…”

“…Nevertheless, they were recognized as one of the most sensitive groups of aquatic invertebrates, occurring mainly in pristine habitats with high water quality (Hynes, 1976;Fochetti and Tierno de Figueroa, 2008;Stewart and Stark, 2008). Most nymphs live mainly in cold, welloxygenated running waters, although some species have also been recorded from lakes (Lillehammer, 1978;Donald and Anderson, 1980;Saettem and Brittain, 1985;Fochetti and Tierno de Figueroa, 2008;DeWalt et al, 2012). Moreover, many species preferably occur in a specific microhabitat, which is related to substrate type, current velocity, hydrological and thermal regime, species' feeding habits and availability of food resources (Cummins and Klug, 1979;Graf et al, 2009).…”

Effects of Land Use Types on Community Structure Patterns of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams of Urban Areas in the South of the Korea Peninsula

“…Some shredders, such as Plecoptera and Trichoptera species in mountain streams, would be sensitive to organic pollution [57,58] and could serve as bioindicators in undisturbed forest areas, whereas filter feeders, like caddisflies and Tubificidae species (non-insect gatherers/collectors), may function as indicators for agricultural areas and urban streams contaminated with organic pollution, respectively [59]. Further studies are warranted to learn more about the biological properties (e.g., traits) of benthic macroinvertebrate communities and their adaptation to land use types.…”

Ecology of Leuctra geniculata (Plecoptera: Leuctridae), an atlantomediterranean species on the north-eastern border of its area

“…The species was later recorded in the basins of major rivers (the Rhine and its tributaries) in W Europe (Müller-Liebenau 1961;Zwick 1973;Sartori & Ruffieux 1996) and is presently listed in Fauna Europaea (Fochetti & Figueroa 2004) from Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Hungary and Romania (records from the last two listed countries are doubtful -see comments given below), although in some countries it was considered extinct, e.g., the Netherlands (Mol 1984). It was also found in Sardinia, Corsica (Consiglio 1975) and N Africa (Aubert 1959).…”