Biodiversity, DNA barcoding data and ecological traits of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in the catchment area of the Mediterranean karst River Cetina (Croatia)

Abstract

The environmental and faunistic research conducted included defining the composition and distribution of caddisflies collected using ultraviolet (UV) light trap at 11 stations along the Cetina River, from the spring to the mouth, and also along its tributaries the Ruda River and the Grab River with two sampling stations each, and the Rumin River with one station. The research was conducted in the period from August 2004 until August 2005 on the Cetina and the Ruda rivers, and from April 2007 to September 2007 on the Grab and the Rumin rivers. A total of 71 caddisfly species and 10,048 individuals were recorded in the study area. Results of the composition and structure of caddisflies were processed with statistical methods using the NMDS analysis. There were differences in the composition of caddisflies in the upper, middle and lower reaches. The paper also presents some ecological features of caddisflies, such as seasonal dynamics and diversity of caddisflies communities. Results of this work contribute to faunistic and ecological knowledge of Croatian caddisflies.

A surprising finding of Ecclisopteryx asterix Malicky, 1979 (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Croatia with notes to DNA barcoding and new distributional data of the subfamily Drusinae

“…Thus, our study further indicates that the DNA barcoding method is a valuable tool in faunistic, taxonomic and biodiversity research, as already implemented in other studies in Croatia (e.g. Cerjanec et al 2020;Kučinić et al 2020;Szivák et al 2017;Valladolid et al 2020;Vučković et al 2021) and other countries (e. g. Ibrahimi et al 2021;Morinière et al 2017;Valladolid et al 2019Valladolid et al , 2021Zhou et al 2007Zhou et al , 2016.…”

“…The current paper is a modern contribution to the knowledge on fauna of Trichoptera in Croatia, as it integrates classical approach and the DNA barcoding method, a valuable tool in taxonomic and faunistic research (e.g. Kučinić et al 2020;Vučković et al 2021). Today, the finding of each new species in the fauna of Croatia is challenging.…”

Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae), a new species of the R. philopotamoides species group from the Republic of Kosovo with molecular and ecological notes

“…nov., together with R. orobica, R. schmidinarica and R. hirticornis form a tetrad of species, sharing the same pattern of phallic apparatus and differing mainly in the shape of second segment of inferior appendages, shape of segment X and spine pattern on parameres. R. orobica is known from Italy only, R. hirticornis is widespread species in Central Europe, R. schmidinarica is known from Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro (Botosaneanu 1999;Urbanič, Krušnik & Malicky 2000;Neu et al 2018;Cerjanec et al 2021), while R. siparantum sp. nov. is currently known from a single locality in Kosovo.…”

“…Most of the species however, prefer clean waters of high current speed and usually are not observed frequently in freshwater ecosystems affected by organic pollution. Adults appear from spring to late autumn, but in some taxa, such as Rhyacophila bosnica Schmid, 1970 and R. fasciata delici for example, winter activity has been observed as well (Previšić et al 2007;Musliu et al 2020;Vučković et al 2021).…”

Status of the BOLD reference library of DNA barcodes of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Western Balkans

“…Entomologists are still reporting new records on this order in the Western Balkan countries. New data on larvae morphology, ecology, and distribution patterns have been found for various species (15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24). Additionally, new species are still being found (25,26) and described (2,5), as well as new subspecies (27).…”