The Rhyacophila fasciata Group in Europe: Rhyacophila fasciata Hagen 1859 and formerly synonymized species (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae), with new description of Rhyacophila fasciata and Rhyacophila septentrionis McLachlan 1865 (stat. prom.).

[EN] The presence and distribution of Rhyacophila fasciata Hagen 1859 in Europe were revised, based on bibliographic study, collection specimens, and new material collected in different countries. The status of formerly synonymized species, Rhyacophila ferruginea (Scopoli 1763) and Rhyacophila septentrionis McLachlan 1865 was also assessed. The type of R. ferruginea is missing, the taxon is still unidentified, and thus we propose Rhyacophila ferruginea as a nomen dubium. Morphological features and genetic evidence revealed that R. septentrionis differs from R. fasciata, so we propose to change its status to status resurrectus. We therefore include new descriptions of the different stages (larva, pupa, male, and female) of R. fasciata and of R. septentrionis, together with a molecular analysis based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) and ecological notes. The species R. coppai Oláh 2020 NEW SYNONYM and R. soreda Coppa & Oláh 2020 NEW SYNONYM are synonyms of R. sociata Navás 1916; the species R. kopasa Oláh & Coppa 2020 NEW SYNONYM and R. rova Oláh & Coppa 2020 NEW SYNONYM are synonyms of R. denticulata McLachlan 1879; the species R. matrensis Oláh & Szcz¿sny 2020 is probably a synonym of R. fasciata, so more study of this species is needed in order to confirm or deny that it is a valid species.[ES] Se ha revisado la presencia y distribución de Rhyacophila fasciata Hagen 1859 en Europa, basada en el estudio de la bibliografía, especímenes de colecciones y en nuevo material recolectado en diferentes países. Se evaluó asimismo el estado de las especies anteriormente sinonimizadas Rhyacophila ferruginea (Scopoli 1763) y Rhyacophila septentrionis McLachlan, 1865. El ejemplar tipo de R. ferruginea se ha perdido y el taxón permanece todavía sin identificar, por lo que proponemos Rhyacophila ferruginea como un nomen dubium. Las características morfológicas y las evidencias genéticas indican que R. septentrionis difiere de R. fasciata, por lo que proponemos un cambio de estatus a status resurrectus. Se incluyen nuevas descripciones de las distintas etapas (larva, pupa, machos y hembras) de R. fasciata y de R. septentrionis, junto con el análisis molecular del gen mitocondrial Citocromo Oxidasa subunidad I (COImt), y notas ecológicas. Las especies R. coppai Oláh 2020 NUEVO SINÓNIMO y R. soreda Coppa & Oláh 2020 NUEVO SINÓNIMO son sinónimos de R. sociata Navás 1916; las especies R. kopasa Oláh & Coppa 2020 NUEVO SINÓNIMO y R. rova Oláh & Coppa 2020 NUEVO SINÓNIMO son sinónimos de R. denticulata McLachlan 1879; la especie R. matrensis Oláh & Szcz¿sny 2020 es probablemente un sinónimo de R. fasciata, por lo que se necesita un estudio más detallado para confirmarla o rechazarla como especie válida.This research is a part of scientific project “DNA barcoding of Croatian faunal biodiversity” (IP-2016-06-9988) funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. The work of P. Chvojka was supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (DKRVO 2019-2023/5.I.b, National Museum, 00023272)

Macrobenthic communities in water bodies and streams of Svalbard, Norway

Diversity of macrobenthic communities was studied from water bodies and streams of Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago, Norway. In total 162 quantitative samples from different regions of Spitsbergen were analysed in relation to environmental variables. Macrobenthic communities were found on all kinds of substrates (except for the periglacial zone), representing a wide range of biological communities: solid-bottom, soft-bottom, macrophytes and small brook associated. However, taxonomical structure is very simplified, with particular dominance of the Chironomidae family. Chironomid larvae dominated highly in diversity, abundance and biomass. Overall macrobenthic communities were characteristic, with remarkable dominance of one species and general omnipresent taxonomical scarcity (averagem 2.8 species per sample). In total we found 30 taxa. We distinguished 16 types of macrobenthis communities, with characteristic dominance of different taxa: chironomids (11 types), oligochaete Enchytraeidae family (3), caddisfly Apatania zonella (1) and gammarid amphipod Gammarus setosus (1). Regarding environmental variables, temperature and pH had the most significant influence on the abundance of macrobenthic organisms. It is hypothesized that the structural convergence of different types of communities is their common response to extreme high Arctic living conditions. On the other hand, different chironomids may dominate in the same habitats and water bodies. This gives the effect of lower average similarity of communities and high β- diversity. Macrobenthos Chironomidae Svalbard Arctic environmental factorsacceptedVersio

Changes in trophic state and aquatic communities in high Arctic ponds in response to increasing goose populations

1. The high Arctic, including the Svalbard archipelago in the North Atlantic, has been exposed to direct and indirect drivers of climatic change such as rising temperatures and associated changes in hydrology and nutrient fluxes. In addition, the number of migrating birds, particularly geese, increased remarkably in the Svalbard archipelago during the second half of the last century. The higher number of breeding birds potentially affects water quality and the biota in ponds and lakes. 2. We aimed to investigate the potential influence of increasing goose abundance on trophic state, taxon richness, and species composition of freshwater communities in the high Arctic. We hypothesised that higher goose abundance affects the trophic state of shallow lakes and ponds and their taxon richness and species composition. We conducted a survey of selected ponds at Svalbard along a goose abundance gradient. We used the number of area-specific goose droppings (range of 0–94 droppings m2) as a proxy of goose presence and measured proxies for productivity as well as taxon richness and composition of phytoplankton and invertebrate communities. 3. Presence and abundance of geese were associated with higher productivity of ponds. Invertebrate and phytoplankton taxon richness correlated (positively) with goose abundance. Both phytoplankton and invertebrate taxon richness increased with increasing nitrogen (N) concentrations. Goose abundance significantly affected phytoplankton species composition, while concentrations of total-N and total phosphorus (P) did not. Species composition of aquatic invertebrates was most strongly affected by goose abundance, but the effect of total-N concentration was also significant. 4. Increased goose abundance was associated with bird driven nutrient enrichment, increased phytoplankton and invertebrate taxon richness and changes of these biological communities. Thus, in addition to climate change, the higher abundances of large migratory water fowl in many polar areas may pose a major additional stress to arctic lakes and ponds. In fact, climate change and bird impact may interact, accelerating ongoing environmental change of arctic freshwater ecosystems. climate change, geese, invertebrates, phytoplankton, Svalbar

Cryptic taxonomic diversity and high-latitude melanism in the glossiphoniid leech assemblage from the Eurasian Arctic

Abstract The family Glossiphoniidae is a diverse and widespread clade of freshwater leeches, playing a significant role in functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The taxonomy and biogeography of leeches from temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions attracted much attention of zoologists, while their taxonomic richness and distribution in the Arctic are poorly understood. Here, we present an overview of the Eurasian Arctic Glossiphoniidae based on the most comprehensive occurrence and DNA sequence datasets sampled to date. This fauna contains 14 species, belonging to five genera and three subfamilies. One genus and five species are new to science and described here. The world’s northernmost occurrences of glossiphoniids are situated on the Taymyr Peninsula at 72° N, although further records at higher latitudes are expected. Most Arctic leeches are characterized by broad ranges crossing several climatic zones (e.g., Glossiphonia balcanica and G. nebulosa), although the distribution of two new species may be confined to the high-latitude areas. The Taymyr Peninsula with the nearby Putorana Plateau represents the most species-rich area (totally 9 species), while the European Arctic, Iceland, Kolyma Highland, and Chukotka Peninsula house depleted faunas (2–4 species per subregion). Finally, we show that the high-latitude melanism is a common phenomenon in glossiphoniid leeches