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The mayfly genus Alainites Waltz & McCafferty, 1994 encompassed 20 species and was represented across the West Palaearctic region by six species. Based on morphological (nymphal characters) and molecular (mitochondrial COI sequences) evidence, two new species are described: A. bengunn sp. nov. from Sardinia and A. gasithi sp. nov. from Israel. Both species are confined to narrow distribution ranges, in line with most of their congeners from the region. The key nymphal traits are discussed and identified to distinguish species in the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of Prosopistoma collected in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Prosopistoma maroccanum sp. nov. appears to be morphologically more similar to the European highly endangered P. pennigerum (Müller, 1785) than to the other Maghrebian species, P. alaini Bojkova & Soldán, 2015. A gene tree including the few available barcode sequences of Palearctic Prosopistoma specimens is provided. Possible affinities with West African species are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Hox genes are key regulators of appendage development in the insect body plan. The body plan of mayfly (Ephemeroptera) nymphs differs due to the presence of abdominal appendages called gills. Despite mayflies' phylogenetic position in Paleoptera and novel morphology amongst insects, little is known of their developmental genetics, such as the appendage-regulating Hox genes. To address this issue we present an annotated, early instar transcriptome and embryonic expression profiles for Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax, and Abdominal A proteins in the mayfly Hexagenia limbata, identify putative Hox protein sequences in the mayflies H. limbata, Cloeon dipterum, and Ephemera danica, and describe the genomic organization of the Hox gene cluster in E. danica. Results: Transcriptomic sequencing of early instar H. limbata nymphs yielded a high-quality assembly of 83,795 contigs, of which 22,975 were annotated against Folsomia candida, Nilaparvata lugens, Zootermopsis nevadensis and UniRef90 protein databases. Homeodomain protein phylogeny and peptide annotations identified coding sequences for eight of the ten canonical Hox genes (excluding zerknüllt/Hox3 and fushi tarazu) in H. limbata and C. dipterum, and all ten in E. danica. Mayfly Hox protein sequences and embryonic expression patterns of Antp, Ubx, and Abd-A appear highly conserved with those seen in other non-holometabolan insects. Similarly, the genomic organization of the Hox cluster in E. danica resembles that seen in most insects. Conclusions: We present evidence that mayfly Hox peptide sequences and the embryonic expression patterns for Antp, Ubx, and Abd-A are extensively conserved with other insects, as is organization of the mayfly Hox gene cluster. The protein data suggest mayfly Antp, Ubx, and Abd-A play appendage promoting and repressing roles during embryogenesis in the thorax and abdomen, respectively, as in other insects. The identified expression of eight Hox genes, including Ubx and abd-A, in early instar nymphs further indicates a post-embryonic role, possibly in gill development. These data provide a basis for H. limbata as a complementary Ephemeridae model to the growing repertoire of mayfly model species and molecular techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Dudgeodes Sartori, 2008 and a new species of Teloganodes Eaton, 1882 are described from India; they are Dudgeodes selvakumari Martynov & Palatov, sp. nov. from Himalayan region (Uttarakhand), Dudgeodes molinerii Sivaruban, Martynov, Srinivasan, Barathy & Isack, sp. nov., and Teloganodes barathyae Sivaruban, Martynov, Srinivasan & Isack, sp. nov. from the Tamil Nadu part of the Western Ghats. Thus, for now, the Teloganodidae fauna of India includes 11 species. Dudgeodes selvakumari sp. nov. appears to be significantly extend northward the known distribution of Dudgeodes. Partial COI sequences were used as an initial clustering method to show the relationships of D. selvakumari sp. nov. with other sequenced operational taxonomic units (OTU) of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the aquatic insects, mayfly nymphs have developed a remarkable diversity of life strategies and feeding habits. However, the early evolution of these strategies and the role of mayfly nymphs in freshwater palaeoecosystems remain largely unknown. We investigated fossil mayfly nymphs from the Grès à Voltzia Formation from the Middle Triassic, France, which represents the oldest known outcrop yielding a diverse mayfly fauna. We focused on three species, namely Mesoplectopteron longipes, Vogesonympha ludovici and Triassoephemera punctata, and investigated both original type material and numerous previously unstudied specimens. As a result, we provide a new interpretation of their morphology, life histories, and systematics: the nymphs of M. longipes, V. ludovici and T. punctata were aquatic and at least the former two species undoubtedly lived in flowing water as passive filter‐feeders. This finding represents the so far earliest occurrence of this feeding strategy in aquatic insects. The most obvious morphological adaptations to this lifestyle are long filtering setae arranged in rows on forelegs, analogous to some modern mayfly nymphs. We place the three investigated species M. longipes, V. ludovici and T. punctata in a newly established, unranked higher taxon, Sinebranchia, representing the sister group to Heptabranchia (Coxoplectoptera + Ephemeroptera). Sinebranchia share a single‐segmented tarsus synapomorphic with Heptabranchia, but retain the plesiomorphic condition of double tarsal claws. Sinebranchia are also characterized by their autapomorphic lack of tracheal gills, probably connected to their life in flowing, well‐oxygenated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coloburiscidae consists of three living genera with a Gondwanan distribution—Coloburiscoides from Australia, Coloburiscus from New Zealand, and Murphyella from Chile. Molecular-based phylogenetic analyses of Ephemeroptera (mayflies) have been somewhat successful in resolving many higher-level relationships in the order. Most of these analyses, however, have been ambiguous with respect to the family Coloburiscidae. This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis specific to Coloburiscidae using data generated from 448 phylogenomic sequences and data generated from the Sanger sequencing of five genes: 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, and H3. Bayesian and likelihood analyses were conducted on each dataset and, ultimately, on a combined dataset of the two. Coloburiscidae was shown to be supported as monophyletic in each instance where the phylogenomic data were included. Coloburiscoides was shown as sister to Murphyella + Coloburiscus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new subgenus, Siniron subgen. n. , is established for five Chinese species of Epeorus Eaton, 1881 to recognize their distinct difference from other subgenera: 1) in nymphs, tergalius I widely expanded anteriorly while tergalius VII curved but unfolded, well developed paired spines on abdominal terga; 2) in adults, unique coloration of wings, penis with distinct median titillators. Among them, nymphal stages of four previously known species, E. (S.) sinensis (Ulmer, 1925), E. (S.) dayongensis Gui & Zhang, 1992 , E. (S.) herklotsi (Hsu, 1936b) and E. (S.) ngi Gui, Zhou & Su, 1999 , are described for the first time and imaginal stages are also re-described. The fifth species, which has apically pigmented hind wings in imago and protuberances on pronotum in nymph, is described as a new species E. (S.) tuberculatus sp. n. All these species can also be delimited by COI sequences. In addition, their distribution in China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: As one of the most species-rich genera of Ephemeroptera, Epeorus Eaton, 1881, was found to be widely distributed in Holarctic and Oriental regions, and nine subgenera have been reported. Previous phylogenetic studies of Epeorus were mainly focused on morphological characters or several gene fragments. Here, 15 mitogenomes of Epeorus are sequenced and the comparative mitogenome analysis of six subgenera is performed. The gene rearrangement of trnI-trnM-trnQ-NCR-ND2 was first found in the genus. In addition, differences in genetic composition and codon usage between the species with this kind of rearrangement and other Epeorus species were observed. Phylogenetic analyses show that three subgenera, Proepeorus, Belovius and Iron, are not monophyletic groups, and our results imply that gill structures are not always appropriate for the classification of subgenera in Epeorus. Epeorus Eaton, 1881 is a diverse mayfly genus in Heptageniidae comprising more than 100 species which are further divided into nine subgenera and several species groups. However, the classification and the phylogenetic relationships among them are still uncertain. Here, 15 complete mitochondrial genomes of Epeorus were sequenced and compared together with six available ones of same genus in the NCBI database. Based on morphological classification, the 21 mitogenomes were classified into six subgenera (Proepeorus, Epeorus s.str., Belovius, Iron, Caucasiron and Siniron) and four species groups (G1, G2, montanus and longimanus). Among all analyzed mitogenomes, the gene rearrangement of trnI-trnM-trnQ-NCR-ND2 was first found occurring in three species of group G1, whereas the gene block trnI-trnM-trnQ-trnM-ND2 was observed in all other mitogenomes of Epeorus. Furthermore, the genetic composition and codon usage of species in group G1 were also significantly different from all other Epeorus species, except group longimanus. The intergenic spacer between trnA and trnR, which has the stem-loop secondary structure, occurred in all 21 mitogenomes, and the sequences of stems and loops were conserved within species groups. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analyses strongly support the monophyly of all species groups, although three of six recognized subgenera Proepeorus, Belovius, and Iron, were shown as the non-monophyletic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patterns of variation within a widespread species can provide evidence of population history. Adjacent stable populations with gene flow show clinal genetic divergence forming a pattern of isolation by distance. Populations that have grown due to an increase in potential habitat such as forest cover since the last glacial maximum will have low genetic variation showing patterns of range expansion. The mayfly Acanthophlebia cruentata of Aotearoa, New Zealand, is widespread in streams of North Island but absent from the cooler South Island. Mayfly nymphs are restricted to streams but adults fly, facilitating gene flow among catchments. We detected higher genetic diversity at lower latitudes of this mayfly's range compared to most of its distribution, concordant with predictions of limited forest cover in New Zealand during Pleistocene glacial periods. A signature of recent range expansion was observed in the higher latitudes. Despite initial observation suggesting mayfly size correlated with latitude, we found sex, elevation and sampling date were significant predictors of size, and some size variation is also explained by three regional groups based on haplotype distribution. The mayfly Acanthophlebia cruentata of Aotearoa, New Zealand, is widespread in Te Ika-a-Māui North Island streams, but has never been collected from South Island despite land connection during the last glacial maximum. Population structure of this mayfly might reflect re-colonisation after volcanic eruptions in North Island c1800 years ago, climate cycling or conceal older, cryptic diversity. We collected population samples from 33 locations to estimate levels of population genetic diversity and to document phenotypic variation. Relatively low intraspecific haplotype divergence was recorded among mitochondrial cytb sequences from 492 individuals, but these resolved three geographic-haplotype regions (north, west, east). We detected a signature of isolation by distance at low latitudes (north) but evidence of recent population growth in the west and east. We did not detect an effect of volcanic eruptions but infer range expansion into higher latitudes from a common ancestor during the last glacial period. As judged from wing length, both sexes of adult mayflies were larger at higher elevation and we found that haplotype region was also a significant predictor of Acanthophlebia cruentata size. This suggests that our mitochondrial marker is concordant with nuclear genetic differences that might be explained by founder effect during range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caenis rivulorum Eaton, 1884 is widely distributed and has been reported from a wide range in the Palearctic region.We report this species from Japan for the first time, from five locations of Hokkaido based on morphology and molecular data.

Freshwater salinization is a global ecological concern because of the alarming biodiversity declines associated with increases in major ion concentrations. Loss of mayfly diversity appears to be a common ecological response to anthropogenic salinization worldwide. Remarkably few regulatory standards exist to protect aquatic life from major ions, and antiquated approaches for setting such standards rely on traditional laboratory toxicity tests, which do not address sensitivities of mayflies at different larval stages. The lab-reared mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer (McDunnough, 1931) has emerged as one of the very few useful aquatic insect models for studying the effects of environmental stressors, including salinity, in the laboratory. Here, we asked if different larval life stages are differentially sensitivity to ion concentrations by conducting traditional 96-h toxicity tests with NaCl, CaCl2, and Ca/MgSO4. We used a general linear model to determine if survivorship differed among larval stages as well as ion type and concentration. We also calculated median lethal concentrations (LC50) for each larval stage. Larval sensitivity to NaCl decreased slightly with age (2–6, 9–13, and 17–21 d, with LC50 values of 401, 441, and 570 mg/L, respectively, when expressed as Na concentrations). Similarly, larval sensitivity to Ca/MgSO4 differed slightly among age groups (LC50 = 748, 1503, and 1439 mg/L, respectively, when expressed as SO4 concentrations). Reliable confidence intervals on LC50 values for CaCl2 could not be calculated because of high survivorship. However, our general linear model revealed that age played a moderate role in survival (p = 0.0065) across all salts of interest. To assess the potential changes in ion flux between larval stages, we used radiotracers (22Na, 35SO4, or 45Ca) in 18- and 25-d-old larvae and found no strong differences in ion uptake rates. We also qualitatively examined morphological differences between larval life stages, including the appearance of gills and number of ionocytes. Our results indicate that younger N. triangulifer larvae may be more sensitive to major ions than mature larvae. These results should be considered when experimentally using larger, late-stage N. triangulifer larvae to study the physiological effects and acute toxicity of salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research in various Moroccan areas allowed an update and a revision of the Moroccan Ephemeroptera checklist. In this case, 54 species are now listed, belonging to 10 families and 26 genera. The distribution of all studied species is discussed, as well as their biogeographical affinities. Moroccan Mayflies are characterized by a clear dominance of Mediterranean elements with a strong rate of endemism (33.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notacanthella jinwu Li & Jacobus, sp. nov. is described based on egg, nymph, and winged stages from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The nymph of the new species is closely related to N. commodema (Allen, 1971), whose nymphs share a similar tuberculation of head, pronotum, and mesonotum. However, the nymph of our new species can be distinguished based on the structures of male sternum IX and abdominal tergal tubercles. In addition, the new species is distributed in subtropical high-altitude areas. The description of the male imago of the new species is the first certain one for the genus Notacanthella. Data associated with our new species allow for expanded discussion and diagnosis of Notacanthella and closely related genera. An identification key for nymphs of these groups is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche partitioning studies are essential to understand the mechanisms that allow ecologically similar species to coexist. The Rhone streber (Zingel asper) and the European bullhead (Cottus gobio) are both benthic riverine fishes that consume macroinvertebrates. Both species are protected under European legislature. We focused on trophic niche partitioning between these species, as sufficient access to trophic resources is an important requirement for long-term coexistence. We used a combination of faeces metabarcoding dietary data and prey community data to evaluate dietary overlap, trophic niche variation and dietary preferences. Sampling was performed in three sites along the Durance River (France). Both species consumed a wide range of macroinvertebrates but neither C. gobio nor Z. asper selected the most abundant taxa (chironomids and simuliids). Both species selected larger mayfly (Baetis and Ecdyonurus) and caddisfly (Hydropsyche) taxa. Dietary overlap was generally high but declined when large mayflies were rare. Contrasting secondary prey preferences and trophic niche variation may allow these species to exploit the same preferred mayflies in periods of abundance and to avoid competition during resource scarcity. We propose that dietary partitioning may support the coexistence of these two ecologically similar, benthic predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera) (EPT) are aquatic insects that are well known to the general public and are commonly used as indicators of environmental quality in water management. Knowledge of how EPT communities react to human-induced gradients in real environments can be important, for example, during the assessment of the implications of newly planned or currently active human disturbances for natural or cultural landscapes. We sampled a stream ecosystem affected by mining and smelting industries and communal wastewaters with pronounced concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc, as well as high levels of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, illegal drugs, and sewage-derived organic matter. Changes in other environmental factors such as increases in temperature were also studied at the affected sites. The abundance and species richness of stoneflies fell rapidly at the study sites. The richness of mayfly families also declined, from four to one, even though overall mayfly abundance was not affected. Conversely, the abundances of caddisflies were higher at the affected sites, and their richness did not decrease. This study will provide feedback for ecotoxicologists who perform better controlled and manipulated tests in laboratories, although any such test results are limited by simple artificial environments. Abundances of EPT larvae sampled in a Central European locality affected by mining and smelting, as well as by the continual inflow of treated communal wastewaters (WWs), were recorded. High concentrations of trace metals in water (maximum 1200 µg·L–1 for zinc) and sediments (maximum 140,000 mg·kg–1 in dry weight for lead) were found at the most contaminated sites. The highest loads of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and illegal drugs were found under the WW effluent. Other associated factors such as the physicochemical parameters of the water and alterations to microhabitats were also evaluated and taken into account. Although EPT richness was lower at affected sites, abundances did not fall. Stoneflies were dominant at unaffected sites, while caddisflies dominated at affected sites. Only baetid mayflies were detected at the sites contaminated by trace metals and WWs; ephemerellid, heptageniid, and leptophlebiid mayflies were absent from these sites. The site contaminated by trace metals was also inhabited by numerous limnephilid caddisflies, in which limb malformations were detected in up to 11.8% of all specimens of a single taxon. Downstream from the entrance of the WWs, the locality was dominated by hydropsychid caddisflies. The increasing prevalence of predator or passive filter-feeding strategies in these EPT communities was significantly related to increasing water conductivity and acute ecosystemic exposure to 'poorly treated' WWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among mayflies, the Hexagenitidae is the most common family of the Cretaceous, including in the world-renowned Crato Formation (Aptian) of northeastern Brazil. However, most of the Crato mayfly fauna was described based on nymphs, which, due to their ontogenetic development, may present numerous continuous characters. As a consequence, many unclear taxa have been described, and their taxonomic position needs to be re-evaluated. We here present a checklist and revision of some previously described species from the Crato Formation and the description of new specimens. We propose a new species, Protoligoneuria heloisae sp. nov., based on a previously described adult erroneously referred to within Oligoneuriidae. Further adult specimens of Hexagenitidae are here described in detail, presenting new morphological data and variations that were, up to now, unknown for Hexagenitidae of the Crato Formation. Lastly, we briefly discuss the genus Cratohexagenites. Our new findings further add to the taxonomical and morphological diversity of the adult mayfly fauna of the Crato Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The majority of European lowland rivers are under the impact of multiple stressors (water quality, hydromorphological alterations, land-use), however, the consequences of these influences on mayflies have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, we studied mayfly assemblages and their relationship to environmental factors along a mid-sized lowland river in Croatia. No significant differences in mayfly species richness and their functional traits were observed among the three habitat groups with different levels of hydromorphological alterations (near-natural, moderately altered, and severely altered habitats). This could be related to the river's connection to the numerous tributaries, and the variety of available microhabitats along the studied system, despite the existing hydromorphological pressures. A stronger relationship was found between mayflies and the water physico-chemical characteristics (water temperature, water velocity, oxygen content, and nutrient (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous) concentrations) and agricultural and urban land-use. These results can contribute to the planning of management and conservation activities for lowland rivers and their biota according to the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Historically, rivers have been anthropogenically modified for different purposes worldwide (e.g., flood control, drinking water abstraction, and land drainage). Although the majority of European lowland rivers are under the impact of multiple stressors (water quality, hydromorphological alterations, land-use), the consequences of these influences on aquatic macroinvertebrates, including mayflies, have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, with the aim of providing additional data on the response of mayflies to anthropogenic disturbances in riverine habitats, we studied mayfly assemblages and their relationship to environmental factors along a mid-sized lowland river in Croatia. No significant differences in mayfly species richness and their functional traits were observed among the three habitat groups with different levels of hydromorphological alterations (near-natural, moderately altered, and severely altered habitats). This could be related to the river's connection to the numerous tributaries, and the variety of available microhabitats along the studied system, despite the existing hydromorphological pressures. A stronger relationship was found between mayflies and the physico-chemical water characteristics and land-use. Water temperature, water velocity, oxygen content, and nutrient (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous) concentrations related to agricultural and urban land-use were found to be the most important factors shaping mayfly assemblages in the studied lotic lowland system. These results can contribute to the planning of management and conservation activities for lowland rivers and their biota according to the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The family Vietnamellidae (Ephemeroptera) is one of the oldest insect families in the world. However, there are still controversies about the phylogenetic relationships among Vietnamellidae, Ephemerellidae, and Teloganodidae. The mitochondrial (mt) genome can be used to discuss phylogenetic relationships and cryptic species. We sequenced and annotated three complete mt genomes of Vietnamella sinensis from three different populations, identifying a cryptic species of V. sinensis and discuss the phylogenetic relationships of Vietnamellidae. Based on the genetic distance of the whole mt genomes, the phylogenetic relationship of three populations was uncovered and the divergence time of V. sinensis QY indicated that it was a cryptic species of V. sinensis. Ephemeroptera (Insecta: Pterygota) are widely distributed all over the world with more than 3500 species. During the last decade, the phylogenetic relationships within Ephemeroptera have been a hot topic of research, especially regarding the phylogenetic relationships among Vietnamellidae. In this study, three mitochondrial genomes from three populations of Vienamella sinensis collected from Tonglu (V. sinensis TL), Chun'an (V. sinensis CN), and Qingyuan (V. sinensis QY) in Zhejiang Province, China were compared to discuss the potential existence of cryptic species. We also established their phylogenetic relationship by combining the mt genomes of 69 Ephemeroptera downloaded from NCBI. The mt genomes of V. sinensis TL, V. sinensis CN, and V. sinensis QY showed the same gene arrangement with lengths of 15,674 bp, 15,674 bp, and 15,610 bp, respectively. Comprehensive analyses of these three mt genomes revealed significant differences in mt genome organization, genetic distance, and divergence time. Our results showed that the specimens collected from Chun'an and Tonglu in Zhejiang Province, China belonged to V. sinensis, and the specimens collected from Qingyuan, Zhejiang Province, China were a cryptic species of V. sinensis. In maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic trees, the monophyly of the family Vietnamellidae was supported and Vietnamellidae has a close relationship with Ephemerellidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic insect species that leave the water after larval development, such as mayflies, have to deal with extremely different visual environments in their different life stages. Measuring the spectral sensitivity of the compound eyes of the virgin mayfly (Ephoron virgo) resulted in differences between the sensitivity of adults and larvae. Larvae were primarily green-, while adults were mostly UV-sensitive. The sensitivity of adults and larvae was the same in the UV, but in the green spectral range, adults were 3.3 times less sensitive than larvae. Transmittance spectrum measurements of larval skins covering the eye showed that the removal of exuvium during emergence cannot explain the spectral sensitivity change of the eyes. Taking numerous sky spectra from the literature, the ratio of UV and green photons in the skylight was shown to be maximal for θ ≈ −13° solar elevation, which is in the θmin = −14.7° and θmax = −7.1° typical range of swarming that was established from webcam images of real swarmings. We suggest that the spectral sensitivity of both the larval and adult eyes are adapted to the optical environment of the corresponding life stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in 20 different localities in the spring, summer and autumn periods in 2019 in order to determine the Ephemeroptera fauna of the Ceyhan Basin and to reveal its relationship with some physicochemical parameters. As a result, 971 specimens were examined and 17 species belonging to six families were identified. There is no data on the given taxa in the Ceyhan basin so all taxa are new records for the Ceyhan Basin. According to the Shannon-Wiener (H) diversity index, the highest and lowest diversity values were determined, respectively, in the spring at stations 7th (1.456) and 6th (0.173), in the summer at stations 20th (1.311) and 13th (0.341), and in the autumn at stations 15th (1.102) and 8th (0.457). According to Evenness (E) values, the most homogeneous stations are the 3rd (0.963), 7th (0.973) and 1st (0.945) stations in the same seasonal order, and the stations with the least homogeneity are the 16th (0.529), 16th (0.659) and 8th (0.527) stations. According to cluster analyses, the highest similarities were observed between stations 3rd and 5th in addition to stations 9th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 19th with 100% percentage. Based on the physicochemical parameters measured in accordance with the Surface Water Quality Regulation, the water quality classes of the stations were in high quality water (Class I) and less contaminated (Class II) water. Canonical correspondence analysis was applied to reveal the relationships between Ephemeroptera taxa and physicochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche differentiation between closely related species leads to differentiation of their habitats. Segregation based on slight differences in environmental factors, that is niche differentiation on the microhabitat scale, allows more species to inhabit a certain geographic space. Therefore, such fine scale niche differentiation is an important factor in the support of species diversity. In addition, niche differentiation on the microhabitat scale and/or the differentiation of breeding seasons can be considered typical mechanisms that facilitate multispecies' co‐existence. In this study, sister species (Commonly, Ephemera japonica inhabit at upstream region and Ephemera strigata inhabit at middle stream region), which often coexist in the upper to middle reaches of river systems of the Japanese Islands, were targeted and the following aspects were investigated. First, differences in habitat preference and interspecific differences in flow distribution patterns on a geographically fine scale were tracked in detail. Subsequently, the temporal transitions of their distribution patterns were investigated in detail and seasonal changes were investigated. Finally, we thoroughly investigated the disappearance of nymphs of each species from the river due to emergence affected the distribution of each species (by conducting daily emergence surveys). Combining results of these multiple studies also suggested that there may be spatiotemporal interspecial interaction between these two species within/around their overlapping regions. Traditionally, the longitudinal distribution pattern of these two Ephemera mayflies has been thought to be established based on a difference in habitat preferences, but this study revealed that the interspecific interaction between the two species also plays an important role. This study provides new insights into species diversity and distribution pattern formation in river‐dwelling species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientia Agropecuaria is the property of Scientia Agropecuaria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on a recent field survey in Iraqi Kurdistan and a critical evaluation of previously published data, 37 mayfly species are listed as occurring in Iraq. We collected and identified nine species as new for the country and corrected some previously published records. For several species scarcely treated in the literature, we provide information allowing their identification in the larval stage to promote the acquisition of reliable faunistic data from Iraq in the future.

We describe the first time sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome of Macromia manchurica Asahina, 1964 (Odonata; Macromiidae; Macromia). The mitochondrial genome of M. manchurica was found to be 15,560 bp. It contains thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and AT-rich region. The overall base composition of A. japonicus is A-38.6%, C-17.0%, G-12.5%, and T-31.9%. A phylogenetic analysis of 14 species within the order Odonata and order Ephemeroptera suggested that Macromia amphigena is most closely related to M. manchurica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroinvertebrates of two ex-manor ponds located in Chroscina, Opole Region (Poland) were studied from 2015 to 2018 to investigate their community composition and diversity and evaluate the heterogeneity of communities on spatial and temporal scale referring to environmental variables and revitalisation work. A total of 32 taxa were recorded (at the family level, except Oligochaeta), 13 of which were Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Trichoptera, recognised as sensitive groups in lentic ecosystems. Macroinvertebrate richness and diversity varied considerably, especially in spring and summer. It was found that habitat heterogeneity influenced benthic invertebrates more than basic water parameters. However, the environmental variables together accounted for only 38 % of the observed variations. Thus, other factors, such as fish predation, may have played a leading role in community shaping. The distinct differences between pond communities, four years after the revitalisation works, resulted more from different habitat features than from the previous sediment removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the EU LIFE‐Nature project 'River and floodplain revitalisation Emmericher Ward', three small temporary waters and a former gravel pit were connected by a side channel running parallel to the river Rhine through former groyne fields. The initial status of macrozoobenthos, fish, avifauna, flora, vegetation, and habitats before and their development after implementation of the project's measures were recorded and compared. The monitoring years 2018 and 2019 were exceptionally dry and accompanied by an extremely low runoff in the Rhine and the side channel. These conditions likely affected the development of habitats and species populations in the new side channel. The new side channel showed intensive morphodynamic development and differentiation of its structures. While the more complex vegetation and habitat types appeared as mostly species‐poor initial stages, short‐lived species‐rich pioneer habitats such as annual mud banks in the water exchange area were already established. Two years after the implementation, the benthic invertebrate fauna was still predominantly species‐poor and dominated by neozoans. Occasionally, representatives of the more sensitive EPT fauna (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) were already detected but were, in general, strongly underrepresented in the main stream. Low colonisation potential, nonpermanent flow, and lack of river wood limit the development of the macrozoobenthos community. The relative abundance of rheophilic fish species increased in the project area and high juvenile fish densities proved the function as a nursery habitat. As pioneer species of riverine landscapes, sand martins and little ringed plovers colonised the new structures already in the first year. The initial state of the side channel represented a typical dynamic pioneer habitat pattern of a sandy lowland river, which was almost absent in the Lower Rhine area. The new habitats were quickly colonised by pioneer flora and fauna, but the potential for more demanding and complex communities was restricted by the poor structural and biological states of the Lower Rhine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isonychia japonica Ulmer, 1919 in the Japanese Archipelago is composed of two genetic lineages that live in different habitats of river ecosystems in the larval stage: clade J-U inhabits upstream and clade J-D inhabits downstream reaches. Whilst their distribution is well known, their morphology and how they have adapted to these diverse environments remains unknown. In this study, we focus on the physiological characteristics, especially the oxygen consumption, and gill morphology of larvae of these two lineages of I. japonica to infer how they adapt to different environments. Our results indicate that I. japonica of the clade J-U has a higher O2 consumption and is greatly influenced by temperature compared to the clade J-D, which is consistent with the physicochemical characteristics of their habitats. Also we show that the two lineages of I. japonica are not only divergent genetically and in their environmental habitats but also different morphologically and physiologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streams and rivers cover a larger proportion of the Earth's surface but are highly affected by human pressures. Conversely, bioassessment methods are in their infancy in developing countries such as Ethiopia. In this study, we compared 2- and 3-min macroinvertebrate kick samples at multiple locations for both riffle habitat (RH) and multihabitat (MH) approaches. The performance of each method was evaluated statistically using benthic macroinvertebrate metrics and diversity indices. Results of the Kruskal–Wallis analysis in this study showed no significant differences among methods tested in minimally impacted streams in Ethiopia and generally performed equally irrespective of the methods employed except for total abundances and Ephemeroptera abundances. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of the relative abundances of macroinvertebrate communities using analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), RELATE, non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS), and classification strength-sampling method comparability (CS-SMC) indicated a high similarity in the macroinvertebrate communities recorded among all methods employed in this study area. However, the index of multivariate dispersion (IMD) test showed variations in relative abundances of macroinvertebrate communities among the methods. In summary, if the focus is not on rare taxa and the required information is not dependent on additional evidence provided by the use of lower taxonomic levels of identification (genus and species), the results of the present study support the use of the shorter 2-min RH kick sampling method for the bioassessment of wadeable rivers and streams in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal abilities and the resulting levels of connectivity between streams influence population structure in aquatic organisms. We investigated how different dispersal and life‐history traits affect gene flow and population structure in three aquatic invertebrate species in a central European mountain range.We used microsatellite markers and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I barcode data to assess small‐scale population structure and connectivity of the mayfly Baetis alpinus, the stonefly Brachyptera seticornis, and the amphipod Gammarus fossarum in seven streams within Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany.Significant population structure within the study area was detected in B. alpinus and G. fossarum, whereas B. seticornis had signatures of panmixia. In G. fossarum, that structure corresponded to stream topography, while in B. alpinus it did not. The Bavarian Forest range appears to be a contact zone for different mitochondrial lineages of B. alpinus and G. fossarum.Limited geneflow between sample sites in B. alpinus can be explained by the species' short adult lifespans, which restricts dispersal between sites. Since imagines are able to disperse via adult flight population structure is, however, decoupled from stream topology. Longer‐lived B. seticornis is better able to maintain geneflow between sample sites. In flightless G. fossarum, population structure corresponding to stream topology can be explained by limited dispersal capabilities between streams.Dispersal ability alone is insufficient to predict or explain patterns of gene flow and connectivity for individual species, and should be examined together with life‐history traits when assessing population and community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold mining is currently one of the main anthropogenic sources of mercury in the environment. In this study, the total mercury content was measured in bottom sediments, benthic macroinvertebrates (mayfly larvae), and fish (Siberian dace) along the Boroo River in northern Mongolia. There was a gold recovery plant in the middle reaches of the river until the mid-twentieth century; an accident there in the 1950s caused a mercury spill. We found an increased content of mercury in measured ecosystem components near the plant compared to the upper reaches of the river. The mercury content in sediments varied from trace amounts in the upper Boroo to 2200 ng/g dry weight (dw) in the vicinity of the plant ruins. The mercury content in mayfly larvae ranged from 50 to 2940 ng/g dw and had a spatial pattern as sediments, with the highest concentrations near the plant. The mercury content in sediments was lower at the mouth of the Boroo River than near the plant, reflecting the lower boundary of the mercury spill. Maximum values of mercury content in fish muscle were found at the river's mouth and were several times higher than in other rivers of northern Mongolia. Median mercury content in muscles of dace from the lower Boroo in 2016 has doubled since studies in 2010–2012, which may be the result of current mercury releases from gold mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater ecosystems are particularly at risk from climate change due to the intrinsic link between the physical properties of the water environment and those species that live there. Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies are key indicators of the health of freshwater environments and their biological traits and ecological preferences determine their vulnerability to climate change. Traits and preferences for 289 British species were analysed, with voltinism, length of flight period, altitudinal preference and affinity to headwaters being the main factors causing vulnerability. Sixteen species were deemed to be at risk from climate change. These species are distributed across Great Britain, but particular hotspots of vulnerability are present in upland areas. These areas should be targeted with mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of climate change on populations of aquatic insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South America's complex geological and environmental dynamics contributed to the origin of Neotropical biodiversity and shaped the pattern of species distribution on the continent. Massartella Lestage (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae, Atalophlebiinae) is a genus currently composed of five species endemic to South America, with a disjunct distribution, occurring in mountains along the Atlantic Forest and in the Venezuelan Pantepui region. Here, we use Bayesian phylogenetic trees, fossil‐based molecular dating and ancestral range estimation to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Massartella. Results recovered the genus and the Pantepui and Atlantic Forest lineages as reciprocally monophyletic, and suggest that a vicariant event separated populations of the last common ancestor of these clades ca. 66 Ma, between the Middle Cretaceous and the Palaeogene. The diversification processes started at the same time in both lineages, and the reciprocal monophyly of clades indicates no subsequent connections between these areas, or the extinction of intermediates. Mountain biodiversity has the signature of both ancient and recent geoclimatic events and ecological processes that probably were responsible for isolating the Pantepui and Atlantic Forest lineages, as well as the speciation processes within these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution area of a species is determined by a combination of factors and since each species of aquatic insect has adapted to drastically changing environments along river channels, they are excellent targets for study. Considering these factors, we focused on three Ephemera mayflies inhabiting the Japanese Archipelago and investigate their niche differentiation patterns. A total of 29 study sites were established within the Asahi-gawa River System to study the relationship between various environmental factors and these mayflies' population structures. From the results of RDA and/or GLMMs, Ephemera japonica tended to distribute in locations with a small degree of canopy openness and a lot of cobbles and boulders. In contrast, Ephemera orientalis tended to distribute in locations with small riverbed slope degree, and small grain size. The distribution area of Ephemera strigata was intermediate between that of E. japonica and E. orientalis. At several study sites, although the distribution patterns appeared irregular due to surrounding environments affected by artificial structures, these patterns can be explained by examining the environmental factors around dams. These results on geographical fine-scaled niche differentiation within a closely related species provide significance knowledge to support understanding of the mechanisms of species coexistence and biodiversity creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Baetidae, Alainites siamensis sp. nov., is described from Thailand. This new species is closely related to Alainites lingulatus Tong & Dudgeon, 2000, Alainites laetificus (Kang & Yang, 1994) and Alainites yixiani (Gui & Lu, 1999). Species delimitation based on morphological and molecular (mitochondrial COI sequences) evidence is provided. The discovery of this species confirms the wide distribution of Alainites Waltz & McCafferty, 1994 in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new mayfly species, Potamanthellus panayensis sp. n. (Neoephemeridae) is described from Panay Island, Philippines, based on nymphs. Supplementary nymphal description of P. caenoides (Ulmer, 1939) and a provisional description of another Potamanthellus species from Mindanao Island, Philippines are provided. The potential underestimated diversity of Potamanthellus in Southeast Asia is discussed in line with the species delimitation in this study based on COI sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in 27 streams of the southern part of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats from January to December 2018. The outcomes show that there is an increase in the percentage of Ephemeroptera (71%) in the first order and there was a negligible fall in the abundance of the fourth-ordered stream. LSE results show a gradual increase of Plecoptera and a gradual decrease of Trichoptera and no such variations in Ephemeroptera. Variations in mesohabitat richness were highest in the run (38.38%) and it was lowest in silt (0.5%). To compare the taxa composition in Western and Eastern Ghats taxa, five different types of river basins were classified. The species richness and abundance were higher in Tampiraparani East flowing and Vamanapuram River basin communities (Western Ghats) than in the Eastern Ghats and this shows mega diversity of Western Ghats compared to the Eastern Ghats. The results of both cluster and ordination analysis also strongly support the discrimination between Western and Eastern Ghats diversity and distribution of EPT taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An algorithm that modifies the individual experience of mayflies in the mayfly algorithm (MA) to enhance its performance, is proposed. The proposed algorithm called the Modified Individual Experience Mayfly Algorithm (MIE-MA) calculates the experience of a mayfly by finding an average of the positions the mayfly has been to instead of just using the best position. A chaotic decreasing gravity coefficient is also employed to enhance the balance between the exploitation and exploration of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm was compared to the original MA, and two recent variants named, PGB-IMA and ModMA, on eight benchmark functions. The parameters used for comparison were Mean Absolute Error, Standard Deviation, and convergence rate. The results validate the superior performance of the MIE-MA over the other three algorithms. The MIE-MA yields better optimal values with minimal iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides information about the fauna of amphibious insects that live in the river Tsraudon, discusses the ecology of species, the dynamics of species diversity. The collected material in the classes Turbellaria (Tricladida), Crustacea (Amphipoda), Arachnida (Hydracarina), Insecta (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Odonata, Diptera), Gastropoda (Pulmonata), is represented by 55 species from 29 families; among zoobenthos, Insecta dominates (87 %). All insects except the order Odonata are represented by litoreophilic, stenothermic species.

A new species, Serratella leonidi Martynov & Palatov, sp. nov., is described from Tajikistan based on immature stage. Based on larval material from Iran including the topotypes, Serratella elissa Jacobus, Zhou & McCafferty, 2009 is complementary described, and its generic placement is clarified. The delimitation of three genera that are members of the tribe Hyrtanellini Allen, 1980, namely Serratella Edmunds, 1959, Torleya Lestage, 1917 and Quatica Jacobus & McCafferty, 2008 is briefly discussed. The phylogenetic reconstruction of Hyrtanellini based on the COI gene showed the relations of representatives of these genera on the one hand, and distinct delimitation of Serratella leonidi sp. nov. and S. elissa on the other. A list of species from Western and Central Asia attributed to Hyrtanellini, their currently known distribution and a key for the determination of the larvae are proposed.

The 2024 International Joint Meeting on Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, also known as the XVII International Conference on Ephemeroptera and XXI International Symposium on Plecoptera, will be held in Turin, Italy from July 21st to 26th. The meeting aims to bring together freshwater researchers, including amateur researchers, to share their recent research, generate new ideas, and improve collaborative networks. The University of Turin, the University of Tuscia, and the University of Granada will host the event. The meeting will include oral and poster sessions, a field trip in the Alps, and a social and awards banquet. More information can be found on the meeting's website at http://ijmep2024.com/. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Tasmanian mayflies: identification, ecology, behaviour and imitation" is a comprehensive resource on Tasmanian mayflies, covering their ecology, behavior, and importance to fly-fishers. The book includes detailed descriptions, distributions, and natural history of mayfly species found in Tasmanian waterbodies. It also discusses the decline of mayflies in certain locations and potential causes for these declines, such as hydro dam development, forestry, and climate change. The book is written in a humorous style and is relevant to both the scientific community and fly-fishers. [Extracted from the article]

A new species of mayfly (Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae) Afronurus meenmutti sp. nov. is described based on larvae and imagoes from the state of Kerala, southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish the new species from all other species are in having glossae oblong with two stout spines medially; lingua of hypopharynx deeply cleft; absence of postero-lateral spines on terga and gill I slightly lobate in the nymph. Hind wing with the acute costal process; stout spine dispersed on basal and surface of forceps in the adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nymphs of all 29 described Prosopistoma species share a conspicuous synapomorphy: a round mesonotal shield, the carapace. They occur in the Palaearctic (nine species), the Oriental (12 species) and the Afrotropic as well as Australian regions (six and two species, respectively). Relatively little is known about their ecology, but past and extant distribution patterns indicate an association with undisturbed conditions.Prosopistoma pennigerum is a rare European mayfly with conspicuous nymphs. Formerly common in large rivers, it has been extirpated from central Europe over the last century.This study evaluated general habitat characteristics and human pressures for historical and current records of this rare species. Prosopistoma pennigerum is currently known from only three European rivers, all with gravel substrates, naturally dynamic discharge regimes, summer‐warm water temperatures, and little human pressure.This study showed that nymphs from the Vjosa and upper Volga rivers, two relatively natural watercourses 2,000 km apart, are morphologically indistinguishable, and show no variation across a ca. 600‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene.Flagship species were first designated in the 1980s, when charismatic species with high habitat requirements such as the Bengal tiger or the giant panda, but also invertebrates are used to communicate conservation and protection needs. We propose that Europe's rarest mayfly P. pennigerum, with its unusual nymphs and remaining populations in naturally dynamic river courses, can serve as a flagship species promoting the preservation of ecological integrity in European rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]