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Farming expansion has negative impacts on freshwater biodiversity. However, the effects of agricultural land use are not similar across taxa and depend on local context. For instance, the impacts of agricultural expansion are understudied in the Neotropics (one of the leading regions in cropland expansion). Knowledge of the effects of agricultural land use on aquatic insects from South American subtropical grasslands (Pampa) is even more incipient. We tested whether landscape modification related to increased agricultural land use was associated with taxonomic homogenization in odonate communities in waterbodies in the Brazilian Pampa. Odonates were collected in waterbodies differing in the main land-use class in their surroundings (cropland or grassland). Cropland and grassland sites differed with respect to their abiotic conditions (water chemistry) and species composition of Odonata. Additionally, we found higher variation in the composition of Odonata (and suborders Anisoptera and Zygoptera separately) in grassland than cropland sites. We found an interplay between agricultural and grassland land uses and the variation in the composition of odonate communities in the Brazilian Pampa. Specifically, landscape modification by agriculture modified the abiotic conditions in the waterbodies, which may have favored species able to establish as larvae under harsher environmental conditions. We suggest that the maintenance of mixed-grassland and cropland land uses in the fields adjacent to waterbodies can limit the negative effects of agricultural encroachment on Odonata communities with respect to biotic homogenization in the Brazilian Pampa.

Spiders play a key role in the ecological dynamics in riparian habitats. However, most studies on the effects of changes in riparian habitats on spider communities have focused on the conversion of riparian forest to other land uses rather than on a gradient of forest widths. We assessed the community structure of ground-dwelling spiders in riparian vegetation fragments with varying widths in Southern Brazil. We selected four fragments with different riparian vegetation widths (> 40 m; < 30 m; < 15 m; < 5 m). In each fragment, spiders were seasonally collected using pitfall traps. We tested the effects of riparian vegetation widths and environmental variables (litter height, litter cover and canopy openness) on the taxonomic and guild composition of spider communities. The taxonomic and guild composition of ground-dwelling spiders varied among the widest (> 40 and < 30 m) and narrower riparian widths (< 15 m and < 5 m). While hunting spiders were associated with the narrower widths, web-building spiders were associated with the wider widths. Spider composition was influenced by the leaf litter height in the widest widths (> 40 and < 30 m) and by canopy openness in the narrowest width (< 15 m). Reductions in riparian vegetation were associated with significant changes in the community structure of ground-dwelling spiders, likely through top-down mechanisms associated with the higher litter input in wider fragments. In summary, the fragmentation of the riparian forests of Sothern Brazil are negatively associated with web-building spiders.

The knowledge of the diversity and distribution of Hyalella species is scarce in the subtropical regions of Brazil. The present study investigated the diversity and distribution of Hyalella species...

We assessed the intraspecific morphological variation in Erythrodiplax media Borror 1942 (Odonata, Libellulidae) among grassland physiognomies ("Coastal," "Highland," and "Steppic") in the South Brazilian Campos. We measured six morphological traits (total body length, thorax height, length, and width of the fore- and hindwings) from 90 specimens (60 males and 45 females). We tested the effect of the grassland type on the set of traits using one-way MANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) (separately for each sex). Grassland physiognomy affected the morphology of males and females. In both sexes, the PCA mostly opposed the specimens of the Coastal from the Highland and Steppic grasslands. The first PCA axis separated specimens according to body lengths, thorax heights, and wing width, while the second PCA axis opposed specimens according to wing length and thorax height from specimens with broader wings and longer body lengths. Males from the Coastal had longer body lengths and shorter thorax heights than Highland and Steppic grasslands, while males from the Steppic had longer fore- and hindwings than specimens from the Coastal and Highland grasslands. Females from the Coastal had significantly shorter forewings than specimens from the Steppic grasslands and shorter hindwings than Highland grasslands. Our results are likely explained by the differences in climate and habitat complexity among grassland types and indicate that the processes driving odonate performance vary among grassland biotopes. This study potentially indicates that dragonflies are sensitive to changes in the vegetation structure in South American subtropical grasslands.

Metacommunity structure of stream invertebrates is contingent on complex interplays between species dispersal ability, spatial extent and watershed environmental specificities. Previous studies showed that high diversity of Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) is observed in southern Brazilian montane streams, although the knowledge of the processes driving such high diversity is poorly comprehended. In this study, we evaluated the relative contribution of environmental (in-stream and landscape) and spatial drivers to the metacommunity structure of larval Chironomidae in a watershed (N = 40 stream reaches) running across a forest–grassland transition landscape in southern Brazil. Overall, 51 taxa were recorded in the study region. We found similar contributions of the environmental (in-stream and landscape) and spatial (broad- and fine-scale spatial drivers) fractions to the metacommunity structure of larval Chironomidae. Our results suggest that environmental processes likely associated with the elevation and stream longitudinal gradients predominated in the assembly of the metacommunity structure of larval Chironomidae. Additionally, mass effects (exchange of individuals via dispersal) possibly associated with the short-range drift or flight and the contact zone between the fauna from each biome also accounted for the observed pattern. Finally, dispersal limitation associated with the spatial extent and the topographic heterogeneity of the study region likely played a minor role in the assembly of Chironomidae metacommunity structure.

Most mesostigmatid mites (Arachnida: Parasitiformes) are soil-dwelling predators, feeding predominantly on detritivorous and fungivorous invertebrates. Little is known about the role of environmental and spatial parameters in driving the structure of their local communities. The aim of this study is to assess the relative importance of environmental/spatial parameters in different scales and microhabitats on the community structure of edaphic mesostigmatid mites in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Soil and litter samples were collected in 20 sites (six subsamples per microhabitat per site; N = 240 samples) distant from each other over ranges varying from 100 m to seven km. Geographic distances between sampling sites and spatial eigenfunctions were used as proxies of stochastic processes to assess the influence of spatial parameters on mite community structure. Environmental parameters included soil grain size, moisture and organic matter, vegetation structure, litter depth and percentage of leaves, branches, and thin roots in plant litter. We collected 1135 Mesostigmata individuals from 77 species/morphospecies. Mite composition strongly differed between soil and litter microhabitats. Mite communities geographically closer were more similar to each other in terms of Mesostigmata composition than expected if there is no spatial structure. Litter depth, soil organic matter and soil moisture significantly contributed to edaphic mite community structure. Deterministic processes predominated in explaining the composition of the litter fauna, while the composition of the soil fauna was more sensitive to stochastic processes. Our results provide evidence that the composition of Mesostigmata communities not only differ between microhabitats, but they are differently structured by environmental and spatial parameters depending on the scale. This provides new insight into the processes affecting of mite diversity within soil ecosystem at fine and broad scales, and highlights the importance of the spatial proximity and microhabitat in driving the composition of mite communities.

Changes in landscape composition caused by conversion of natural habitats into human-altered ecosystems can directly influence the physical characteristics of stream networks. Such impacts can modify the functional structure of fish communities, although the exact consequences of anthropic land-use changes can be context-dependent. This study investigated the influence of different land-use classes on the functional structure of fish communities in 32 headwater streams from southern Brazil. Trait composition and indices of functional diversity of the fish community were related to four land-use classes: native forest vegetation, silviculture, agriculture, and urban areas. Streams surrounded by larger areas of native forest were characterized by the predominance of foraging specialist species like grazers. However, as native vegetation is replaced by agriculture and urban areas, specialist species are replaced by species with generalist diet like detritivores. In streams surrounded by larger areas of agriculture, functional richness and divergence increased, while functional evenness decreased. Most likely, these changes were induced by alterations in the water quality, indicated by increased electrical conductivity and water temperature in streams with more agriculture areas. In conclusion, the conservation of the native forest vegetation is essential to maintain habitat characteristics and ecological processes in streams and to avoid the loss of specialist species in fish communities.

We assessed the diversity of zooplanktonic resting stages through different spatial scales in intermittent ponds along a forest–grassland transition in southern Brazil. We tested how the diversity (richness) of resting stages varied through the following spatial scales: cores (α), among sediment cores within a pond (β1), among ponds (β2), and between biomes (β3). We also assessed the diversity for the subsets of ponds within each biome. Sediment samples from 12 ponds were hydrated in the laboratory, and hatchlings were collected after 30-day incubation experiments. The estimated richness of the components β2 and β3 was higher than expected and they had the greatest contributions to total richness (47% and 24%, respectively). Within each biome, component β2 accounted for the greatest fraction of the total diversity, although their relative contributions changed between biomes (forest: 66%; grassland: 58%). The higher contribution of the among-pond spatial scale (β2) can be accounted to the environmental heterogeneity among sites. The higher contribution of the broadest spatial scales to the total diversity in the forest rather than the grassland biome suggests that vegetation type influences the spatial patterns of diversity of the zooplankton.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the evolution of aging and life history. High investments in life-history traits and environmental conditions can be associated with increased oxidative stress and aging process. However, to date, most studies that investigated variations in oxidative status were performed with long-lived vertebrates. Studies with short-lived vertebrates in wild are nonexistent. Annual killifishes have the shortest lifespans among vertebrates and inhabit temporary ponds subject to large variations in environmental conditions. In this sense, we investigated whether the high investment in growth and reproduction in a short-lived vertebrate and the large variations in environment has any cost in susceptibility to oxidative stress. We assessed the seasonal variation and the environmental correlates of four different oxidative status markers (lipid peroxidation and activity of the antioxidant enzymes Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione S-Transferase) along the life cycle of wild individuals of the Neotropical annual fish Austrolebias minuano. Males showed reduction in all biomarkers (except proteins) along their life cycle, while females showed increased oxidative stress only in the growth period. In addition, we showed that water physicochemical parameters, habitat structure and presence of co-occurring killifish species influenced the seasonal variation of the biomarkers. A. minuano showed an efficient antioxidant system for most part of their life cycle (mainly in males), suggesting a well-developed oxidative stress regulation system. We also show that annual fish mortality (mainly in males) apparently is not related to oxidative stress. Thus, environmental factors should drive annual fish aging and mortality.

In this study, we assessed the community structure (species richness and composition) and examined concordance patterns between the active and dormant life stages of the zooplankton (Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda) in Southern Brazilian temporary ponds. We also examined pairwise concordance patterns in the species richness and composition between each taxonomic group. We recorded 77 species in the study area. Active communities had higher species richness and a higher number of exclusive species compared to the dormant community. Low concordance was observed in the species richness and composition of the active and dormant communities. Significant patterns were detected between similar life stages of zooplankton taxonomic groups. We found significant concordance between the species richness of dormant stages of Cladocera and Rotifera, and between the active stages of Cladocera and Copepoda. We also detected significant concordant patterns in the similarity for composition of the active stages of Cladocera and Copepoda, and of Rotifera and Copepoda. The lack of concordance between life stages indicates that the dormant communities are not adequate surrogates of the overall diversity of the zooplankton in Southern Brazilian temporary wetlands, at least under similar experimental incubation conditions. However, there is initial evidence that cladocerans and copepods can be employed as surrogates of other zooplankton groups, if the conclusions are strictly limited to active stages of the community.

The efficiency of biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring studies is commonly challenged by limitations in taxonomic identification and quantification approaches. In this study, we assessed the effects of different taxonomic and numerical resolutions on a range of community structure metrics in invertebrate compositional data sets from six regions distributed across North and South America. We specifically assessed the degree of similarity in the metrics (richness, equitability, beta diversity, heterogeneity in community composition and congruence) for data sets identified to a coarse resolution (usually family level) and the finest taxonomic resolution practical (usually genus level, sometimes species or morphospecies) and by presence-absence and relative abundance numerical resolutions. Spearman correlations showed highly significant and positive associations between univariate metrics (richness and equitability) calculated for coarse- and finest-resolution datasets. Procrustes analysis detected significant congruence between composition datasets. Higher correlation coefficients were found for datasets with the same numerical resolutions regardless of the taxonomic level (about 90%), while the correlations for comparisons across numerical resolutions were consistently lower. Our findings indicate that family-level resolution can be used as a surrogate of finer taxonomic resolutions to calculate a range of biodiversity metrics commonly used to describe invertebrate community structure patterns in New World freshwater wetlands without significant loss of information. However, conclusions on biodiversity patterns derived from datasets with different numerical resolutions should be critically considered in studies on wetland invertebrates. Fil: Marques Pires, Mateus. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: Grech, Marta Gladys. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina Fil: Stenert, Cristina. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: Maltchik, Leonardo. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: Epele, Luis Beltran. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina Fil: McLean, Kyle I.. United States Geological Survey; Estados Unidos Fil: Kneitel, Jamie M.. California State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Bell, Douglas A.. East Bay Regional Park District; Estados Unidos Fil: Greig, Hamish S.. The University Of Maine (the University Of Maine); Fil: Gagne, Chase R.. The University Of Maine (the University Of Maine); Fil: Batzer, Darold P.. University of Georgia; Estados Unidos

In this study, three new species of Hyalella (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyalellidae) are described based on specimens collected in wetlands located in three freshwater ecoregions (Southeastern Mata Atlântica, Tramandaí-Mampituba and Laguna dos Patos) of the southern Brazilian Coastal Plain (states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina). Hyalella minuana n. sp. was recorded in the southernmost region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species is characterized by presenting smooth body surface, epimeral plates not acuminated, nine serrate setae on the inner face of gnathopod 1, and peduncle of uropod 3 with four cuspidate setae with accessory seta and without plumose seta on the margin of the telson. Hyalella lagoana n. sp. was recorded in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul and southern region of Santa Catarina. This species shows body surface smooth, epimeral plates not acuminated, nine serrate setae on the inner face of gnathopod 1, peduncle of uropod 3 with five cuspidate setae with accessory seta, and telson with six cuspidate setae with accessory seta without plumose seta on the margins. Hyalella sambaqui n. sp. was recorded in the state of Santa Catarina. This species is characterized by presenting smooth body surface, epimeral plates not acuminated, six serrate setae on the inner face of gnathopod 1, peduncle of uropod 3 with three cuspidate setae with accessory seta, and telson with three cuspidate setae with accessory seta and four plumose setae on the margin of the telson. The new records elevates the known diversity of species of Hyalella in the Brazilian territory to 33 species (19 in the southern Brazilian region) and to 83 species in the Americas.

Climate change that affects biota in lower latitudes may presage biotic assemblages of higher latitudes. Macroinvertebrate assemblages in depressional wetlands may be especially sensitive to climate change because weather‐related precipitation and evapotranspiration are dominant ecological controls on habitats, and organisms of depressional wetlands are temperature‐sensitive ectotherms. We aimed to better understand how wetland macroinvertebrates assemblages were structured according to geography and climate. To do so, we contrasted aquatic‐macroinvertebrate assemblage structure (family‐level) between subtropical and temperate depressional wetlands of North and South America using presence‐absence data from 264 of these habitats across the continents and more‐detailed relative‐abundance data from 56 depressional wetlands from four case study locations (North Dakota and Georgia in North America; southern Brazil and Argentinian Patagonia in South America). Both data sets roughly partitioned wetland numbers equally between the two climatic zones and between the continents. We used ordination methods (PCA and NMDS) and tests of multivariate dispersion (PERMDISP) to assess the distribution and the homogeneity in variation in the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages across climates and continents, respectively. We found that macroinvertebrate assemblage structures in the subtropical depressional wetlands of North and South America were similar to each other (at the family level), while assemblages in the North and South American temperate wetlands were unique from the subtropics, and from each other. Tests of homogeneity of multivariate dispersion indicated that family‐level assemblage structures were more homogeneous in wetlands from the subtropical than temperate zones. Our study suggests that ongoing climate change may result in the homogenization of macroinvertebrate assemblage structures in temperate zones of North and South America, with those assemblages becoming enveloped by assemblages from the subtropics. Biotic homogenization, more typically associated with other kinds of anthropogenic factors, may also be affected by climate change. Fil: Stenert, Cristina. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: Pires, Mateus M.. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: Epele, Luis Beltran. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina Fil: Grech, Marta Gladys. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina Fil: Maltchik, Leonardo. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasil Fil: McLean, Kyle. I.. United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Mushet, David.M.. United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Batzer, Darold. P.. University of Georgia; Estados Unidos

Deforestation affects freshwater assemblages since aquatic organisms are dependent on the structure of the riparian vegetation. To investigate the responses of riffle beetles (Elmidae) to deforestation, this study assessed the structure of riffle beetle assemblages found in streams running through a large and well-preserved semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest remnant in Southern Brazil and in nearby deforested areas. Additionally, the effects of different substrate types (litter and stone) on the assemblages were assessed. Riffle beetle assemblages showed a remarkably distinct structure between forested and deforested areas. Lower abundance occurred in deforested streams. Indicator genera of forested streams were detected (e.g.,Macrelmis and Microcylloepus), while a generalist genus (Heterelmis) predominated in deforested streams. Substrate type did not affect the composition of riffle beetle genera, although higher abundance was found in litter. Our results are likely associated with changes in the vegetation type and levels and quality of allochthonous material input between forested (native and higher levels) and deforested (exotic and lower levels) streams, which are directly linked to the feeding habits of riffle beetles. Thus, our study reveals an interesting potential of riffle beetles as indicators of stream ecological integrity in semi-deciduous areas of the Atlantic Forest biome.

Assessment of β diversity patterns in relation to environmental and spatial drivers can provide useful insights into the underlying mechanisms structuring communities (deterministic and dis...

Climate change is predicted to affect the distribution of freshwater taxa, and stronger impacts are expected on endemic species. However, the effects of future climates on freshwater insects from the Neotropical region have been generally overlooked. In this study, the distribution of a damselfly (Cyanallagma bonariense, Odonata, Coenagrionidae) endemic to the subtropical South American grasslands (Pampa) was modelled in relation to future scenarios of high greenhouse gas emissions (RCP 8.5) for 2050 and 2070. For this purpose, ecological niche models were developed based on assumptions of limited dispersal and niche conservatism, and the projected distribution of C. bonariense was contrasted with the location of current protected areas (PAs) in the Pampa. A broad potential distribution of C. bonariense was indicated throughout the Pampa, and projections predicted a predominance of range contractions rather than range shifts in climatically suitable areas for C. bonariense in 2050 and 2070. Projections of suitable areas overlapped in central Argentina and southernmost Uruguay in these periods. Our results indicated a potential resilience of C. bonariense to future climate change, which is likely related to the low restrictions in habitat use of C. bonariense. In every projection, however, most PAs were expected to lose effectiveness, as by 2070 most PAs fall outside the range of the predicted distribution of C. bonariense. Thus, the creation or enlargement of PAs in these areas is recommended and these results represent an important information for the conservation of endemic freshwater insects under global warming scenarios in an overlooked Neotropical landscape.

The role of hydroperiod as an environmental filter in structuring wetland assemblages is usually associated with trait selection in invertebrates. However, the effects of changes in the hydroperiod of non-permanent wetlands on invertebrate assemblages are still unclear, and few studies have assessed the functional structure of insect assemblages along the hydroperiod gradient. In this study, we investigated the effects of different hydroperiod lengths on the functional structure of Odonata assemblages in non-permanent wetlands (posteriorly classified as ‘short-’, ‘medium-’ and ‘long-hydroperiod’) in southern Brazil in 2013 and 2014. Biological traits related to life-history strategies in temporary waters were assessed according to seasonal patterns of occurrence of nymphal and adult stages of odonates. Following the rationale of an environmental filter produced by hydroperiod, we expected to find (1) higher functional diversity in longer hydroperiods and (2) trait-convergence patterns in odonate assemblages in shorter hydroperiods. Patterns of functional diversity were detected along the hydroperiod gradient. More specifically, higher functional dispersion was found in long-hydroperiod wetlands and trait-convergence patterns occurred in wetlands with shorter hydroperiods, supporting our general hypothesis. Odonate taxa with life-history traits associated with shorter life cycles predominated in medium- and short-hydroperiod wetlands. Our results thus suggest that more pronounced reductions in wetland hydroperiod length should produce odonate assemblages functionally more similar, and these results gain special importance as climate change scenarios indicate that the hydrology of wetlands will be affected by variation in rainfall regimes.

Dormancy is an adaptive mechanism found in cladoceran species to tolerate hydrologic fluctuations in temporary habitats. However, the effects of hydroperiod length on invertebrate community structure remain not fully understood. In this study, we conducted an experiment to assess changes in community structure of dormant stages of cladoceran species among ponds with different hydroperiods. Dry sediment samples were collected from intermittent ponds in southern Brazil, posteriorly assigned to three hydroperiod categories (long, medium and short). We tested for differences in the richness and composition of emerging cladoceran species along this hydroperiod gradient. Nine species emerged over the experiment, and cladoceran community structure changed among hydroperiods. Cladoceran richness was higher in medium- than in short- and long-hydroperiod ponds. In addition, the composition of cladoceran species changed significantly between short- and long-hydroperiod ponds. Our results indicated that changes in hydroperiod of intermittent ponds influenced the dormant stages of Cladocera, an important result regarding future predicted changes in hydric regime of freshwater ecosystems due to human-induced climate change. We propose that desiccation-resistant cladoceran species are likely to predominate and that richness of egg banks tends to be higher in ponds that hold water for periods shorter than 1 year.

Aim Describe the diversity of immature stages of Odonata (Insecta) in streams from a subtropical island in southern Brazil and investigate the influence of environmental variables on the composition of their assemblages. Methods Eleven low-order streams (1st to 3rd order) were sampled in two conservation units located in the island of Santa Catarina (southern Brazil) between 2010 and 2012. Immature specimens of Odonata were collected using a Surber sampler. The influence of water abiotic parameters and habitat structure (mesohabitats: riffle vs. pool areas, microhabitats: litter vs. stone substrates) on the composition of Odonata was tested through the seasons using ordination diagrams and redundancy analysis. Results Nine odonate genera from seven families were recorded in the study region. The genera Desmogomphus, Epigomphus (Gomphidae), Heteragrion (Heteragrionidae) and Perilestes (Perilestidae) have their first records described for the state of Santa Catarina. Additionally, biological notes are provided for other odonate genera concerning substrate use. The composition of Odonata communities changed over the seasons and they were influenced by water temperature and velocity. Additionally, odonate composition differed significantly between microhabitats (substrate type) and mesohabitats (riffle vs. pool areas) in the streams studied. Conclusions The lower genera richness of Odonata recorded in the island of Santa Catarina in relation to other Brazilian subtropical streams is probably associated with the insular condition of the study region. This study also demonstrated that substrate (organic and inorganic) and mesohabitat (riffle and pool) types were important drivers of the composition of the fauna of immature odonates, evidencing the role of climate and habitat structure in influencing subtropical stream insect communities.

Evaluating beta diversity patterns along environmental gradients and different geographic ranges helps comprehend the roles of niche-based and spatial processes to metacommunity structure. Pond-breeding anuran composition depends on environmental predictors such as climate, vegetation type and habitat features as well as spatial processes (e.g., dispersal limitation or distances among patches). Here, we investigated the role of spatial and local (water chemistry and habitat structure) and regional (climate) environmental predictors to tadpole beta diversity (and its turnover and nestedness-resultant components) in temporary ponds distributed along a forest–grassland transition in the southern Brazilian Coastal Plain. Additionally, we investigated the role of the assessed predictors within forest and grassland sub-regions to test for congruence in their contribution across vegetation types. Turnover was the most relevant component of beta diversity. Spatial predictors alone explained beta diversity (and both components) at the broadest scale. However, the contribution of environmental and spatial predictors to beta diversity differed between sub-regions. Spatial and local environmental predictors independently explained beta diversity in the grassland, while in the forest sub-region, local predictors and spatially-structured climate were the most important. Our results revealed a complex interplay of niche-based and spatial assembly processes shaping anuran metacommunities. The different relationships of environmental and spatial predictors with beta diversity in the forest and grassland sub-regions suggest that the contribution of assembly processes to anuran metacommunity structure change with vegetation type.

Patterns of freshwater invertebrate assemblage structure in the transition from permanent to non-permanent lentic habitats are well described in the literature. However, the effects of small changes in the hydroperiod of non-permanent ponds on invertebrate assemblage structure remain less studied, especially on β-diversity. Thus, we tested the effects of different pond hydroperiod lengths on the assemblage structure of immature odonates, in terms of both α- and β-diversity. Small high-altitude ponds with different hydroperiod lengths (assigned to ‘short’, ‘medium’ and ‘long’ hydroperiods) were sampled in southern Brazil between 2013 and 2014. Based on the hypothesis that shorter hydroperiods filter constituents of lentic fauna, i.e. that long-living species cannot inhabit shorter-hydroperiod ponds, we expected to find higher α- and β-diversity in longer hydroperiods, as well as predominance of the nestedness component in β-diversity. Restricted occurrence of some genera and higher α-diversity of immature odonate assemblages was detected in long-hydroperiod ponds. Within-hydroperiod β-diversity values did not vary among hydroperiods, because the occasional occurrence of some genera with high dispersal ability of adults in short-hydroperiod ponds yielded similar values of the β-diversity among hydroperiods. Partitioning of β-diversity among hydroperiods revealed a significant higher contribution of the nestedness component rather than turnover. This pattern is explained by the occurrence of some generalist genera across the whole gradient of hydroperiod, as a subset of fauna in longer-hydroperiod ponds. Thus, our results suggest that reduction in hydroperiod length, if occurring in the future climate change, would favor habitat-generalist taxa in lentic ecosystems.

We present an Odonata (Insecta) check list of species occurring in a fragment of the Seasonal Deciduous Forest (Atlantic Forest biome) from the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, along with a list of the odonate species recorded in this phytoecological region for the state. In addition, we provide comments on the seasonal distribution of the species occurring in the study area. Two streams and seven farm ponds located in the middle course of the Jacuí River basin were surveyed between December 2007 and February 2009. Overall, we recorded 49 species from 21 genera and six families. Argia serva Hagen in Selys, 1865 (Coenagrionidade) had its first occurrence record mentioned for the state, elevating to 183 the total number of Odonata species occurring in Rio Grande do Sul. The number of species recorded in the study area corresponds to ~26% of the known Odonata diversity in RS. Libellulidae was the most species-rich family (22 species, ~45% of the total), followed by Coenagrionidae (18 species, 37% of the total). The checklist for the Seasonal Deciduous Forest in RS indicated the occurrence of 83 species of Odonata in this phytoecological region (~45% of the known odonate species in the state). This elevated diversity could be related to the density of the vegetation structure. In the study area, 20 species were found in streams, and 45 in farm ponds. Species occurrence showed marked seasonal patterns in the study area, with 88% of the species recorded from summer to autumn, and no species detected in streams in the winter. Moreover, 70% of the species were recorded in either one or two seasons in farm ponds, while 65% occurred solely in one season in streams. This result indicates that the life cycle of Odonata in southern Brazil is strongly influenced by seasonal patterns in temperature.

Odonate larvae can be serious pests that attack fish larvae, postlarvae, and fingerlings in fish culture tanks, causing significant loss in the supply and production of juveniles. This study reports a screen of the essential oils (EOs) of Nectandra megapotamica (Sprengel) Mez, Nectandra grandiflora Nees, Hesperozygis ringens (Bentham) Epling, Ocimum gratissimum L., Aloysia gratissima (GilliesHooker) Troncoso, and Lippia sidoides Chamisso against Coenagrionidae larvae. In addition, the most effective EO and its 50% lethal concentration (LC50) and chemical analysis are described. The larvae of Acanthagrion Selys, Homeoura Kennedy, Ischnura Charpentier, and Oxyagrion Selys were used to assess the EO effects. EO obtained from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed the highest larvicidal effects at 19 h of treatment. The major constituents of the EO of H. ringens include pulegone and limonene, while eugenol and Z-beta-ocimene predominate in the EO of O. gratissimum, and carvacrol and rho-cymene were the major compounds of the EO of L. sidoides. Leaf EOs from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed activity against Coenagrionidae larvae at similar concentrations with LC50s of 62.92, 75.05, and 51.65 microl liter(-1), respectively, and these were considered the most promising treatments.

AIMS: In this study, the diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera communities was surveyed in the Toropi River basin, a watershed localized in a slope region, in southernmost Brazil. The influence of some local abiotic factors on the most common genera was also analyzed. METHODS: Samplings were conducted at 40 sites in 1st-4th order streams, along a short elevation gradient (70-500 m), with a Surber sampler. Water physico-chemical factors, as well as substrate type, were obtained at each site. RESULTS: At all, 5,320 specimens were collected, belonging to 18 families and 52 genera. The caddisflies Austrotinodes and Celaenotrichia, and an undescribed Elmidae, Genus M, are new records for the region. The caddisfly Smicridea was the most frequent genus in the study area. The mayflies Camelobaetidius, Paracloeodes and Americabaetis were influenced by stream order. Smicridea was related to air temperature, while the mayfly Thraulodes was influenced by high levels of electrical conductivity. CONCLUSIONS: The high diversity found in the study area, compared to other Brazilian regions, reflects the environmental heterogeneity in the region. These data show that hydrographic basins in slope areas from extreme Southern Brazil sustain high levels of diversity of aquatic insect communities.

Odonate larvae play an important role in wetland systems, providing food for many fish species and birds. Besides, they are important predators in these ecosystems. However, studies of factors that determine odonate species richness and distribution in wetlands are scarce in the Neotropical region. The objectives of this study were to: 1) conduct a survey of the diversity of odonate larvae in southern Brazil wetlands, and 2) determine how much variation in odonate richness, abundance and composition is explained by wetland area, altitude, water conductivity and nitrate, hydroperiod, and dominant aquatic vegetation in 140 wetlands in an extensive area of the Neotropical region (,280,000 km 2 , southern Brazil). A total of 4,039 individuals distributed among five families and 28 genera were collected. Libellulidae, Coenagrionidae and Aeshnidae were the families that showed the greatest richness. Erythrodiplax was observed in more than 70% of the sampled wetlands, and comprised 61% of individuals collected. Richness was negatively associated with wetland area and nitrate concentration. Odonate abundance was negatively associated with water conductivity and nitrate, and it was higher in aquatic beds than in emergent wetlands. Richness and abundance were higher in permanent than in intermittent wetlands. Variation in odonate composition was correlated with wetland altitude, area and water conductivity. Hydroperiod and dominant aquatic vegetation also influenced composition. Our results showed that southern Brazil wetlands are important habitats for 28 odonate genera, and that richness, abundance and composition are influenced mainly by hydroperiod, nitrate, and aquatic vegetation type. These results should be seen as important to determine the environmental factors that shape and maintain odonate diversity in southern Brazil wetlands.

The ability to recover to original states after disturbances makes macroinvertebrates useful tools for assessing the impacts of pesticides. Many studies showed that direct exposure to pesticides decreases macroinvertebrate richness and alters their composition. The main objective of this study was to assess recovery patterns in macroinvertebrate communities after pesticide application in irrigated rice fields. We analyzed short-term temporal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities after application of the herbicides bispyribac-sodium and clomazone and the insecticide chlorantraniliprole, over the rice-growing season in southern Brazil. We selected three conventional rice fields and the recovery of macroinvertebrate communities was also compared with three adjacent natural ponds. The study was developed from November 2011 to February 2012 (rice-growing season). Five macroinvertebrate collections were carried out 3, 7, 14, 38, and 60 days after pesticide application (November 25). Rice fields showed lower richness and abundance than ponds in the period immediately after pesticide application, and recovery rates in the richness of macroinvertebrate communities were more conspicuous as pesticide residuals dissipated from the fields. Macroinvertebrate community structure in rice fields also became more similar to natural ponds as pesticide traces were scarcer. However, macroinvertebrate abundance patterns were not related to pesticide concentrations in the fields. Our results supported the general hypothesis on the negative effects of pesticide application on macroinvertebrate community in irrigated rice fields, although other environmental features (e.g., length of the flooded period) also contributed to explain temporal dynamics in the macroinvertebrate communities from irrigated rice fields.

A Encosta do Planalto, na regiao central do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, e uma area de transicao de relevo ainda bem preservada, pois sua declividade dificulta conversoes no uso da terra. Contudo, a integridade ambiental de seus rios tem sido ameacada por diversas atividades humanas, como barramentos. Com o intuito de contribuir para futuros programas de conservacao do estado, este estudo apresenta uma revisao sobre os macroinvertebrados aquaticos que ocorrem nos rios e riachos na Encosta do Planalto. O levantamento foi realizado com base em dados de artigos, livros e tambem de dissertacoes e teses cujos especimes encontram-se depositados na Colecao de Macroinverterbados Aquaticos, da UFSM. Ao todo, 355 taxons foram encontrados. A ocorrencia de comunidades diversificadas e abundantes de Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera e Trichoptera indica que as aguas na regiao estudada sao bem oxigenadas e relativamente limpas. Outros grupos atestam a presenca de substratos pedregosos e correnteza acentuada. Mollusca, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera e os dipteros Chironomidae estao representados por comunidades extremamente ricas, se comparadas as de rios de outras regioes do Brasil. A alta diversidade deve-se, provavelmente a heterogeneidade ambiental dos rios e a origem evolutiva da maioria destes grupos em regioes de clima temperado, como o RS. Estes resultados mostram que os rios da Encosta do Planalto merecem atencao especial dos programas de conservacao ambiental.

The diversity and spatio-temporal distribution of Elmidae (Coleoptera) assemblages in montane rivers and streams of southernmost Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul state) were studied. Six genera were found, represented mostly by larval specimens. Austrolimnius and Macrelmis are new occurrences in the region. Assemblages’ genera composition and dominance were related to the presence of the macrophyte Podostemum. Also, water temperature and stream depth and velocity were the most important drivers related to the assemblages’ distribution. Richness and abundance were positively related to high water velocity and negatively to stream depth. Temporal patterns were detected especially in assemblage abundance, yet a slight pattern in richness was also observed. The seasonal structure was related to warm temperatures, but temporal distribution of Elmidae assemblages appears to be related to the dominant genera life cycles. The studied area shows an overall Elmidae richness similar to that found in some tropical areas and the role of mountainous environments in sustaining high rates of regional diversity in the Neotropics is stated. A diversidade e a distribuição espaço-temporal de comunidades de Elmidae (Coleoptera) em rios e riachos de uma área montanhosa no sul do Brasil (estado do Rio Grande do Sul) foram estudadas. Sete gêneros foram encontrados, representados principalmente pelo estágio larval. Austrolimniuse Macrelmis são novas ocorrências no estado. A composição e a dominância dos gêneros estiveram relacionadas com a presença da macrófitaPodostemum. Além disso, a temperatura da água, a velocidade da corrente e a profundidade dos riachos foram os fatores mais importantes relacionados à distribuição das comunidades. A riqueza e a abundância foram positivamente relacionadas com a velocidade da corrente e negativamente com a profundidade. Não foram detectados fortes padrÕes temporais na riqueza, mas certa sazonalidade na abundância das comunidades foi observada. A distribuição temporal não esteve relacionada a um fator abiótico especí;fico. Assim, a distribuição temporal das comunidades de Elmidae parece estar relacionada aos ciclos de vida dos gêneros dominantes. Por fim, ressalta-se que a área de estudo apresenta uma riqueza total Elmidae semelhante à de algumas áreas tropicais e o importante papel dos riachos montanhosos na manutenção de altas taxas de diversidade regional na região Neotropical.

A diversidade de larvas de odonata em sistemas loticos de dois trechos (encosta e planicie) da bacia do Rio Ibicui, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, foi inventariada nos anos de 2009 e 2010. Foram coletados 964 especimes pertencentes a 34 generos distribuidos em sete familias. Libellulidae foi a familia mais rica com 14 generos e Gomphidae foi a mais abundante com 410 especimes coletados. Tres generos (Agriogomphus, Cacoides e Mnesarete) sao novos registros para o estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Os generos dominantes e mais frequentes foram Progomphus, Hetaerina e Argia. Nao foi encontrada diferenca significativa de riqueza de generos entre os dois trechos estudados da bacia, mas uma diferenca de frequencia de ocorrencia de alguns generos foi registrada. Essa diferenca deve-se a distincao de caracteristicas do substrato entre os trechos, que promoveram uma predominância de generos da familia Gomphidae, em especial no trecho arenoso da planicie.

Farm ponds help maintain diversity in altered landscapes. However, studies on the features that drive this type of property in the Neotropics are still lacking, especially for the insect fauna. We analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of odonate larval assemblages in farm ponds. Odonates were sampled monthly at four farm ponds from March 2008 to February 2009 in a temperate montane region of southern Brazil. A small number of genera were frequent and accounted for most of the dominant fauna. The dominant genera composition differed among ponds. Local spatial drivers such as area, hydroperiod, and margin vegetation structure likely explain these results more than spatial predictors due to the small size of the study area. Circular analysis detected seasonal effect on assemblage abundance but not on richness. Seasonality in abundance was related to the life cycles of a few dominant genera. This result was explained by temperature and not rainfall due to the temperate climate of the region studied. The persistence of dominant genera and the sparse occurrence of many taxa over time probably led to a lack in a seasonal pattern in assemblage richness.

The spatial and temporal structure of non-biting midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae assemblages and some environmental factors that affect their distribution were analyzed in a montane river and its tributaries in a temperate climate region of southernmost Brazil. In total, 69 taxa were recorded after four seasonal samplings (winter, spring, summer, and autumn). The dominant taxa were Rheotanytarsus sp. 1, Rheotanytarsus sp. 2, Cricotopus sp. 2, and Polypedilum (Polypedilum) sp., although dominance varied among the four sampling sites. The variations in dominance, abundance, and richness among the different sites were affected by environmental characteristics, such as the presence of marginal vegetation and a heterogeneous substratum, and also by human activities. Strictly environmental factors, such as altitude, and factors related to annual weather patterns, such as mean temperature and precipitation, influenced the spatial and temporal distribution of certain taxa and the structure of faunal assemblages. The influence of the riparian vegetation and riverbed heterogeneity on the composition, richness, and abundance of the chironomid larvae assemblages indicates that human activities, such as deforestation and the construction of dams, constitute a serious threat to the conservation of these insects and to the fauna that depends on them for food.