After extensive exploratory investigations into crenic habitats at the beginning of the 1990s, a number of springs were selected and long-term ecological research programmes independently initiated in the Berchtesgaden National Park (north-eastern Alps, Bavaria) and the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park (south-eastern Alps, Trentino). Following more than a decade of standardized work, this paper presents a selection of results from both sides of the Alps, with a focus on zoobenthos in Bavaria and on pro- and eukaryotic algae in Trentino. In order to test the assumption that permanent springs are particularly suitable habitats for long-term ecological research, the following topics are addressed: (1) taxonomic diversity and relationships between diversity and spring typology; (2) transverse gradients in crenic habitats, hygrophilous terrestrial invertebrates and xerotolerant algae; (3) possibilities of documenting changes in species composition over decadal time scales ("medium-term") based on emergence traps, benthos, and benthic algae. The data obtained show that: (1) crenic habitats support particularly high biological diversity (but a thorough documentation of insect diversity is impossible without emergence studies); (2) helocrenes are the most species-rich habitats, for both invertebrates and diatoms; (3) dynamic (unstable) and occasionally-impacted springs show identifiable signs of medium-term change, whilst particularly complex and stable crenic habitats seem to be controlled by internal processes. Our results suggest that: (1) the meiofauna is likely to react directly to environmental change, while emergers and the hygrophilous terrestrial fauna are indirectly affected, and (2) diatoms react both to direct effects of environmental change, e.g. discharge and hydrochemistry, and to indirect effects on the surroundings of the spring. Based on our results, long-term research strategies are discussed. For long-term studies, we propose a focus on meiofauna and diatoms, with target-oriented emergence studies and macroscopic benthic algal analyses. This could form the basis for an integrated and uniform approach to studies of these habitats worldwide

In this study, we use DNA barcodes for species delimitation to solve taxonomic conflicts in 86 specimens of 14 species belonging to the Corynoneura group (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae), from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Molecular analysis of cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences supported 14 cohesive species groups, of which two similar groups were subsequently associated with morphological variation at the pupal stage. Eleven species previously described based on morphological criteria were linked to DNA markers. Furthermore, there is the possibility that there may be cryptic species within the Corynoneura group, since one group of species presented internal grouping, although no morphological divergence was observed. Our results support DNA-barcoding as an excellent tool for species delimitation in groups where taxonomy by means of morphology is difficult or even impossible.

During faunistic investigations on spring habitats in the alpine National Park Berchtesgaden (Bavaria, Germany), water mites were found to be the group with the highest share of species strongly adapted to springs. At four sample sites at two spring complexes, insect emergence was screened for parasitism by larval water mites. A total of at least 36 host species were recorded as being parasitized by 19 water mite species. As in many other habitats, the most important host taxon was shown to be the nematoceran family Chironomidae, both in the number of species and individuals parasitized. Likewise, the number of water mite species attached to chironomids was high. Further host species were found among the Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Limoniidae and Empididae (Diptera). These taxa were only parasitized by a single water mite species in each case. For 13 mite species, new hosts were recorded for the first time. For another six species, the known host spectrum could be confirmed and/or supplemented. The parasitological data presented (e.g., prevalences, selected attachment sites on the host, larval phenology, intensity of parasitism) provide, in most cases, basic information concerning previously unknown parasite-host associations. At this time, the reason for the strong crenobiosis in water mites cannot be explained by their parasitism.

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Five new species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini) from Brazil are described and illustrated. T. longitubuli sp. n. and T. pseudocurvicristatus sp. n., are described as larva, pupa and male; T. hirsutus sp. n., as male and pupa, and T. corumba sp. n. and T. jatai sp. n. as males. Except for one species from Pantanal (western central Brazil), most species were collected in southeast Brazil, from lowland streams and lakes. New occurrences of known species of Tanytarsus in Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso states, are also given.