Preimaginal feeding habits of Dictyogenus fontium (Plecoptera, Perlodidae) in an alpine brook in NW Italy

The feeding habits of Dictyogenus fontium nymphs were investigated in the Rio Olen, an alpine brook in NW Italy. In an analysis of the gut contents of 84 nymphs, we detected evident trophic preferences: Chironomidae (Diptera) were the major component of the prey ingested, independently of their availability in the substratum. Plant detritus and algae were also an important part of the diet of this carnivorous stonefly. The findings are discussed on the basis of ecological considerations

Preimaginal feeding habits of Dictyogenus fontium (Plecoptera, Perlodidae) in an alpine brook in NW Italy

The feeding habits of Dictyogenus fontium nymphs were investigated in the Rio Olen, an alpine brook in NW Italy. In an analysis of the gut contents of 84 nymphs, we detected evident trophic preferences: Chironomidae (Diptera) were the major component of the prey ingested, independently of their availability in the substratum. Plant detritus and algae were also an important part of the diet of this carnivorous stonefly. The findings are discussed on the basis of ecological considerations

Laboratory Vs Field Performance of Innovative Thermal Insulating Plasters

Thermal insulating plasters and renders are becoming a popular solution for the energy retrofit of existing and historic buildings because of their suitability/compatibility with the existing masonry supports. However, as for most of the insulating products, the actual performance of these materials might significantly differ from the one determined with simplified methods (EN ISO 6946 standard) that are commonly adopted by the designers. In this study, an overview of the latest Authors researches that involve three different thermal insulating plasters, containing respectively perlite, vegetal and aerogel aggregates, are presented. The developed plasters were characterized in the laboratory and successively applied in three demonstration buildings. From the in-field thermal monitoring activities, all the analysed thermal insulating plasters showed a decrease in the thermal performance between 25 and 30% if compared to the laboratory measurements

Aquatic Insects and Benthic Diatoms: A History of Biotic Relationships in Freshwater Ecosystems

The most important environmental characteristic in streams is flow. Due to the force of water current, most ecological processes and taxonomic richness in streams mainly occur in the riverbed. Benthic algae (mainly diatoms) and benthic macroinvertebrates (mainly aquatic insects) are among the most important groups in running water biodiversity, but relatively few studies have investigated their complex relationships. Here, we review the multifaceted interactions between these two important groups of lotic organisms. As the consumption of benthic algae, especially diatoms, was one of the earliest and most common trophic habits among aquatic insects, they then had to adapt to the particular habitat occupied by the algae. The environmental needs of diatoms have morphologically and behaviorally shaped their scrapers, leading to impressive evolutionary convergences between even very distant groups. Other less evident interactions are represented by the importance of insects, both in preimaginal and adult stages, in diatom dispersion. In addition, the top-down control of diatoms by their grazers contributes to their spatial organization and functional composition within the periphyton. Indeed, relationships between aquatic insects and diatoms are an important topic of study, scarcely investigated, the onset of which, hundreds of millions of years ago, has profoundly influenced the evolution of stream biological communities.FESR, Interreg Alcotra 2014-2020, EcO Project of the Piter Terres Monvis

Feeding on the roof of the world: the first gut content analysis of very high altitude Plecoptera

The biology of Plecoptera from high altitude Himalayan freshwaters is almost unknown. Very few and sporadic studies have been devoted to these insects, and exclusively with a taxonomic approach. We provide information on the feeding of Capnia nymphs from three lakes localized above 4,800 m a.s.l. (NE Nepal). Nymphs from these high altitude lakes feed mainly on fine detritus, acting as collector- gatherers, with the accidental ingestion of mineral matter, mostly in larger specimens. It is likely that the harsh environmental conditions in our study area create an environment unfavorable to both the allochthonous input of coarse particulate organic matter (such as terrestrial leaves) and the autochthonous input related to aquatic primary productivity, so that these nymphs feed on small organic particles that originates mainly from the catchment