Macroinvertebrates of the Iranian running waters: a review

Abstract

A comprehensive review of macroinvertebrate studies conducted along the Iranian running waters over the last 15 years has been made by providing the most updated checklist of the Iranian running waters benthic invertebrates. Running waters ecosystems are complex environments known for their importance in terms of biodiversity. As part of the analysis, we endeavored to provide the critical re-identification of the reported species by through comparisons with the database of the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) and appropriate literature sources or expert knowledge. A total of 126 species belonging to 4 phyla have been compiled from 57 references. The phylum Arthropoda was found to comprise the most taxa (n = 104) followed by Mollusca, Annelida and Platyhelminthes. Ongoing efforts in the Iranian running waters regarding biomonitoring indices development, testing, refinement and validation are yet to be employed in streams and rivers. Overall, we suggest that future macroinvertebrate studies in Iranian running waters should be focused on long-term changes by broadening target species and strong efforts to publish data in peer-reviewed journals in English.

Pollution evaluation in the Shahrood River: Do physico-chemical and macroinvertebrate-based indices indicate same responses to anthropogenic activities?

“…The evaluation of ecosystem pollution and the assessment of biota responses to environmental changes have received increasing attention from scientists (Azrina et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2013;Taherizadeh and Sharifinia, 2015;Mangadze et al, 2016). Biological monitoring programs are widely applied in developed countries and suggest many advantages in assessing ecological outcomes of perturbations in developing countries (Sharifinia, 2015). Currently, many indices based on macroinvertebrate communities are used as effective tools for assessment of health or pollution status in freshwater ecosystems, because they are comparatively easy and affordable to collect (Mangadze et al, 2016).…”

Initial commented checklist of Iranian mayflies, with new area records and description of Procloeon caspicum sp. n. (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

“…Likewise, the Nearctic/Neotropic genus Callibaetis could refer to cosmopolitan Cloeon , and the Nearctic/Neotropic genus Tricorythodes seems to refer to cosmopolitan Caenis , etc. A review of macroinvertebrates of Iranian running waters by Sharifinia (2015), despite promising “critical re-identification of the reported species”, includes such confusing data not only in mayflies, but also in Plecoptera. Therefore, we do not recommend using this list as reliable and valid source of information on the diversity of Iranian benthic insects.…”

“…A detailed review of literature revealed 42 references published in international journals accessible to the scientific public. Publications written in Persian (Farsi) were previously reviewed by Sharifinia (2015) and they did not include any species not reported in international sources reviewed (cf. Table 2 summarizing macroinvertebrate diversity in Sharifinia 2015).…”

“…Publications written in Persian (Farsi) were previously reviewed by Sharifinia (2015) and they did not include any species not reported in international sources reviewed (cf. Table 2 summarizing macroinvertebrate diversity in Sharifinia 2015). Despite relatively high number of recent (after 2000) publications on macroinvertebrates based on routine sampling of benthic communities, the knowledge on aquatic diversity seems to be very limited.…”

“…Sharifinia (2015) reviewed 57 references (37 of them written in Persian) published after 2000 and compiled a list of 37 mayfly taxa (identified to species or genus level) known from Iranian rivers. However, this list is partially based on studies presenting species/genera which identity should be regarded as highly unlikely (Ahmadi et al 2011, 2012, Mahboobi Soofiani et al 2012, Amri et al 2014, Farasat and Sharifi 2014, Golchin Manshadi et al 2015).…”