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With the objective of improving the knowledge about Ephemeroptera in the North region of Brazil, the group’s first survey was carried out for the metropolitan region of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. The specimens analyzed were collected from 2019 to 2020 in 27 aquatic environments distributed in the region. The nymphs were captured in the streams with aquatic entomological nets, in addition to manual collection on the substrates. Adults were collected using light traps and flight intercept traps. To complement the inventory, a bibliographic survey of species previously recorded in the area was carried out. For this, the Taxonomic Catalog of Fauna of Brazil, the website Ephemeroptera in South America and scientific articles were consulted. As a result, eight families, 23 genera and 31 species/morphospecies were recorded for the region, with 13 new records for Pará and 19 for the metropolis of Santarém. This study demonstrates the relevance of surveys for the knowledge of biodiversity and for understanding the geographic distribution of taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, aquatic communities reflect the effects of anthropogenic changes such as deforestation or organic pollution. The Cerrado stands among the most threatened ecosystems by human activities in Brazil. In order to evaluate the ecological integrity of the streams in a preserved watershed in the Northern Cerrado biome corresponding to a mosaic of ecosystems in transition to the Amazonia biome in Brazil, biological metrics related to diversity, structure, and sensitivity of aquatic macroinvertebrates were calculated. Sampling included collections along stretches of 200 m of nine streams and measurements of abiotic variables (temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and discharge) and the Index of Habitat Integrity (HII). The values of the abiotic variables and the HII indicated that most of the streams have good ecological integrity, due to high oxygen levels and low concentrations of dissolved solids and electric conductivity. Two streams showed altered HII scores mainly related to small dams for recreational and domestic use, use of Cerrado natural pasture for cattle raising, and spot deforestation in bathing areas. However, this finding is not reflected in the biological metrics that were used. Considering all nine streams, only two showed satisfactory ecological quality (measured by Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), total richness, and EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) richness), only one of which had a low HII score. These results indicate that punctual measures of abiotic parameters do not reveal the long-term impacts of anthropic activities in these streams, including related fire management of pasture that annually alters the vegetation matrix and may act as a disturbance for the macroinvertebrate communities. Due to this, biomonitoring of low order streams in Cerrado ecosystems of the Northern Central Brazil by different biotic metrics and also physical attributes of the riparian zone such as HII is recommended for the monitoring and control of anthropic impacts on aquatic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose While environmental risks associated with petroleum extraction such as oil spills or leaks are relatively well known, little attention has been given to the impacts of silt. The increase in petroleum exploitation in Amazonia has resulted in sediment input to aquatic systems, with impacts on their biodiversity. Here we use a combination of field measurements and statistical analyses to evaluate the impacts of anthropogenic silt derived from the construction of roads, borrow pits, and wells during the terrestrial development of gas and oil, on macroinvertebrate communities in streams of the Urucu Petroleum Province in the Central Brazilian Amazon. Material and methods Ten impacted and nine nonimpacted streams were sampled in January, April, and November of 2007. Macroinvertebrates were sampled along a 100-m continuous reach in each stream at 10-m intervals using a dip net. Abiotic variables including, a siltation index (SI), suspended inorganic sediment (SIS), sediment color index (SCI), suspend organic sediment (SOS), pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, water velocity, channel width, and depth, were measured at three equidistant points in each stream (~30-m intervals). Results and discussion SI did not differ between impacted and undisturbed streams. SIS was higher and SCI lower (more reddish) in impacted than in non-impacted streams. SCI had a positive and SIS a negative effect on both macroinvertebrate richness and density. SIS and SCI also influenced macrophyte taxonomic composition. In impacted streams, taxonomic richness and density were 1.5 times lower than in non-impacted streams. No taxon was significantly associated with impacted streams. SIS was positively correlated with SOS and electrical conductivity while SCI was negatively correlated with SOS, electrical conductivity, and pH. The lack of difference in SI between impacted and nonimpacted streams suggests that anthropogenic sediment does not accumulate on stream beds. The reddish color of SIS in impacted streams reflects terrestrial erosion and indicates the rapid flow of suspended sediments through these reaches, impacting macroinvertebrate richness, density, and species composition. Conclusions Anthropogenic suspended silt has had a significant negative impact on aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity and density in streams in the Urucu Petroleum Province. Soil conservation measures are needed to reduce silt inputs and restore these streams to their natural condition. Additional studies are also needed to investigate the dynamics of sediments in the impacted streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female, pupa, and larva of Oukuriella epleri Messias & Fittkau, 1997 are described and figured. The larvae were collected in freshwater-sponges from Amazonia. We also provide an emended diagnosis for the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]