The zoogeographical distribution of Chironomidae (Insecta : Diptera)

Ashe, P.; Murray, D. A.; Reiss, Friedrich

doi:10.1051/limn/1987002

Cited by 118 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Members of the Chironomidae are distributed over a wide range of temperatures, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration, current velocity, depth, trophic state, altitude and latitude (Lindergaard & Brodersen 1995, Milner et al 2001, Finn & Poff 2005. The chironomids have therefore been the object of extensive ecological and biogeographical studies (Brundin 1966, Ashe et al 1987) because of their great plasticity (e.g. ecological amplitude) with respect to morphological, physiological and ethological adaptability (Coffman & Ferrington 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) assemblages along an Andean altitudinal gradient

Scheibler¹,

Roig‐Juñent²,

Claps³

2014

Aquat. Biol.

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Chironomidae are an abundant, diverse and ecologically important group common in mountain streams worldwide, but their patterns of distribution have been poorly described for the Andes region in western-central Argentina. Here we examine chironomid assemblages along an altitudinal gradient in the Mendoza River basin to study how spatial and seasonal variations affect the abundance patterns of genera across a gradient of elevation, assess the effects of environmental variables on the chironomid community and to describe its diversity using rarefaction and Shannon's indices. Three replicate samples and physicochemical parameters were measured seasonally at 11 sites in 2000 and 2001. Twelve genera of chironomid larvae were identified, which belonged to 5 subfamilies. Chironomid composition changed from the headwaters to the outlet and was associated with changes in altitude, water temperature, substrate size and conductivity. We found a pronounced seasonal and spatial variation in the macroinvertebrate community and in physicochemical parameters. Environmental conditions such as elevated conductivity levels and increased river discharge occurring during the summer produced low chironomid density values at the sampling sites. The rarefaction index revealed that the sampling sites with highest richness were LU (middle section of the river) and PO (lower section). However, Shannon's diversity index indicated that LU had the lowest diversity as a consequence of the dominance of Cricotopus over the other genera found. We attribute the low diversity found in our aquatic system to the aridity of the sampling area, as has been demonstrated in studies of other similar lotic systems in this mountain region.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) assemblages along an Andean altitudinal gradient

Scheibler¹,

Roig‐Juñent²,

Claps³

2014

Aquat. Biol.

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“…Chironomid larvae inhabit almost every kind of aquatic habitat (Pinder, 1986;Ashe et al, 1987;Armitage et al, 1995a;Osborne et al, 2000). As a consequence they have been used as biological indicators in freshwater ecosystems (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors – spatial and temporal variation of chironomid communities in oceanic island streams (Azores archipelago)

Raposeiro

Costa

Hughes

2011

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Freshwater systems on volcanic oceanic islands have very particular characteristics as a result of their geological origins, relatively small size, distances from source areas for colonizers, and distinct catchment morphology. These factors result in freshwater communities that are clearly distinct from continental systems. Chironomid spatial and temporal distribution was investigated in chironomid assemblages at 21 sites across the Azores Archipelago. Results using PERMANOVA, a permutational multivariate analysis of variance, indicated significant longitudinal differences in assemblages but none between islands or over time.Links between hydromorphological and physicochemical variables and the community assemblage were assessed using DISTLM, a linear model for distance-based multivariate analysis. The percentage of variation explained by hydromorphological factors (31%) was slightly higher than that explained by physicochemical (28%) factors. Descriptors of land use (forest area, scrub area, natural area of catchment) and stream slope were found to be the best environmental predictors of chironomid assemblages in Azores. Physicochemical variables such as temperature, pH, nitrite, iron and conductivity were the principal drivers of change in chironomid composition in stream locations. Headwater sites, characterized by lower temperature, acid to neutral pH values, low conductivity, nutrient and metal concentrations were dominated by Rheocricotopus atripes. Mid-section sites, located in agricultural areas were dominated by Thienemanniella clavicornis. Urbanized lower reaches were characterized by higher temperature, pH, conductivity and nutrient levels and were dominated by Cricotopus sp. These results give essential information that allows us to predict the response of different chironomid species to hydromorphological and physicochemical gradients across the archipelago's streams contributing providing the basis for the development of tools for the implementation of the Water Frame Directive.

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“…The Chironomidae comprise a widely distributed group of insects with an aquatic larval stage that often occurs high densities and diversity in freshwater and marine environments (Pinder, 1986;Ashe et al, 1987;Armitage et al, 1995;Osborne et al, 2000). The diversity of chironomid species is exceptionally high with an estimated worldwide number of 15 000 species .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) in oceanic islands: New records for the Azores and biogeographic notes

Raposeiro

Hughes

Costa

2009

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Oceanic islands freshwater systems are unique due to their volcanic origin, oceanic situation, catchment morphology and the presence of distinct freshwater communities when compared with continental systems. This study provides an update of Azorean chironomid fauna records, distribution data and includes biogeographical comments, based on collections covering a range of freshwater habitats on several islands over 2005 to 2008. Island species area-relationships or ISAR was performed as a descriptive model for species accumulation patterns in each island in relation to their area. Six new chironimid species records are given for the Azores archipelago: Orthocladiinae: Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) fuscimanus (Kieffer, 1908), Pseudorthocladius (Pseudorthocladius) curtistylus (Goetghebuer, 1921), Synorthocladius semivirens (Kieffer, 1909), Parachaetocladius abnobaeus (Wu¨lker, 1959); Chironominae: Chironomus (Chironomus) annularis (Meigen, 1818), Parachironomus tenuicaudatus (Malloch, 1915). As a result, the Azorean chironomid fauna has increased from 38 to 44 species, spread across 33 genera. Most recorded chironomids are primarily of western Palaearctic origin; Nearctic, Oriental and Neotropical regions are comparatively poorly represented. A checklist is provided, incorporating and updating previous records. Chirononidae distribution pattern among the islands is analyzed and island species area-relationship (ISAR) analyses, performed to provide a descriptive model for species accumulation patterns in each island, indicated a positive correlation between species richness (number of species) and the area of the Azorean islands, supporting MacArthur and Wilson 's equilibrium theory of island biogeography. Chironomidae could be promising for searching candidate bioindicators to answer the demand of Water Frame Directive.

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The zoogeographical distribution of Chironomidae (Insecta : Diptera)

Cited by 118 publications

References 42 publications

Chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) assemblages along an Andean altitudinal gradient

Chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) assemblages along an Andean altitudinal gradient

Environmental factors – spatial and temporal variation of chironomid communities in oceanic island streams (Azores archipelago)

Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) in oceanic islands: New records for the Azores and biogeographic notes

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