Latitudinal gradient variations in caddisfly assemblages across mountain forest streams

PERO, EDGARDO; RUEDA MARTÍN, PAOLA ALEJANDRA; REYNAGA, M. CELINA

Quito

Congreso; AQUATROP: Ecosistemas Acuáticos tropicales en el Antropoceno; 2018

UNIVERSIDAD SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO

Evidence of latitudinal diversity gradient of benthic macroinvertebrates is variable. Thisstudy analyzed how varies the species and genus richness, composition and structure ofcaddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) assemblages in Yungas mountain forest of Argentinathrough a latitudinal gradient from 22º (Tropical) to 28º (Subtropical). Qualitative andquantitative data from 21 sites including different streams were compared across sixlatitudinal ranges. The assemblage structure was analyzed by comparing Rankabundance(RA) curves. Non metric-Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and k-medoidclustering PAM method were made using Dissimilarity among assemblages. Streamenvironmental variables were compared for discard important differences among sites.The species richness increased meaningfully through the latitudinal gradient from highto low latitude. Although genus richness evidences the same pattern, it was lessnoticeable. RA curves shows changes in assemblage?s composition and structure acrossthe latitudinal gradient. The NMDS and PAM analyses revealed that the overallstructure of the Trichoptera assemblages agrees adequately with the latitudinal gradient.The sampling sites were segregated in two groups: the northern sites (22º-25º) and theaustral sites (25º-28º). This distribution and richness patterns are similar to othersobserved in plants and vertebrates from Yungas forest.