Range Loss

Arcynopteryx compacta, a northern Holarctic species, is confirmed from Lake Superior along the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan\u27s Upper Peninsula. A checklist of stoneflies of Michigan is provided, reporting 58 species plus a list of an additional 19 species that are likely to occur in the state

Similarly to other Mediterranean regions, Italy is expected to experience dramatic climatic changes in the coming decades. Do to their poikilohydric nature, lichens are among the most sensitive organisms to climate change and species requiring temperate-humid conditions may rapidly decline in Italy, such in the case of the epiphytic Lobaria species that here reach the southern border of their distributional range and are bounded to humid forests. Our study, based on ecological niche modelling of occurrence data of the three Lobaria species occurring in Italy, revealed that in the next decades climate change will impact their distribution range across Italy, predicting a steep gradient of increasing range loss across time slices. Lobaria species are therefore facing a high extinction risk associated with fragmentation and reduction of their range. The current patterns indicate that only L. pulmonaria still has a continuous distribution across Italy, with potential contact between Apennine and Alpine populations. This situation is consistent with the wider climatic niche of this species, still offering a major opportunity for its successful long-term conservation. Results (a) claim for the inclusion of the three Lobaria species in European conservation policies, such as the Habitat Directive, and (b) warn against an over-estimation of the indicator power of single flagship species to establish conservation priorities for lichens, indicating that even lichens with peculiar and similar climatic envelopes may fail to co-occur within a given forest stand. A multiple indicator approach could provide more useful tools for a community-based conservation strategy for epiphytes.

Arcynopteryx compacta, a northern Holarctic species, is confirmed from Lake Superior along the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. checklist of stoneflies of Michigan is provided, reporting 58 species plus list of an additional 19 that are likely to occur in the state. Arcynopteryx compacta (McLachlan) is included in a small group of stoneflies that can be described as circumpolar. This species is broadly distrib uted throughout the northern Holarctic region in a circular manner mainly south ofthe Arctic Circle.

The timing and spatial distribution of aquatic insect emergence is linked to the abiotic and biotic environment in streams. Studies of aquatic insect emergence are needed to generate baseline data to identify potential shifts in phenology and habitat-related emergence with global change. The purpose of this study was to 1) compare the timing of Plecoptera (stonefly) species emergence between two streams with different thermal regimes and 2) characterize the distribution of emerging Plecoptera and Trichoptera (caddisflies) from wood, rock, gravel, and sand substrates in five forested, headwater streams. Emergence timing and duration varied among Plecoptera species, with Ostrocerca albidipennis (Walker) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) emerging only in May and four species in the genus Leuctra (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) collectively emerging throughout the summer (May to September). We observed earlier emergence of Amphinemura nigritta (Provancher) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) and a longer total em...

Nearly 5,000 historical and contemporary specimen records of stoneßies (Plecoptera) from Illinois demonstrated that this fauna is highly imperiled, boding poorly for aquatic insect communities in North America and elsewhere. Losses include two extinctions of endemics and 20 extirpations of 77 total species, a rate of loss that is higher than for either mussels or Þsh in Illinois. Another 19 species (24.7%) were designated as critically imperiled, being known from Þve or fewer locations. Two families, Perlidae and Perlodidae, experienced the greatest number of losses. Species lost were mostly those with longer life cycles and direct egg hatch. Three historically hyperdiverse regions were identiÞed and losses in all 14 natural divisions were documented. Large river habitats and historically prairie regions have experienced the greatest proportional losses of species. This scenario probably follows for Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Odonata in the Midwest and in other areas with similar glacial and cultural histories. KEY WORDS Plecoptera, Illinois, aquatic insect conservation THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION posed by the title is not answerable with great certainty. As with most insects, distributions are sketchy at best, especially with regard to historical distributions. For groups whose taxonomy has remained relatively stable (e.g., vertebrates and many plants), the use of literature and other records may be sufÞcient to document historical distributions. However, insect taxonomic concepts and nomenclature are constantly being revised. In this case, historical distributions of insects can only be reliably estimated from preserved specimens in natural history museums. New (1994) discussed the need to improve conservation efforts for invertebrates. He pointed to a marked increase in invertebrate conservation activities, mostly in the Western world, including the publication of the Red Data Book for Invertebrates. The International Union for Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List (Red List 2004) of insects currently contains 181 U.S. species among 11 orders. These include species that are extinct and those at various levels of imperilment. Among them, terrestrial species dominate with 137. These data demonstrate that Lepidoptera are highly imperiled; indeed, they have experienced 34 extinctions among the 39 species listed (Fig. 1), and their listing in the Red Book was too late to help their conservation. Orthoptera and Hymenoptera are also well represented with "Vulnerable" being the most frequent listing (Red List 2004). Only 46 aquatic species (25%) are on the list, the majority of which are Odonata (39 species). Chief among these are eight of the 23 species of Megalagrion

Seventy-seven species of stoneflies representing 8 families and 24 genera are herein reported from Arkansas. The most diverse families of state stoneflies were Perlidae (26 species), Capniidae (14 species), and Perlodidae (12 species) while Pteronarcyidae had only a single representative species. Additional taxa will surely be added to the list with future taxonomic studies incorporating molecular analyses.

Databasing of all Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera specimens in the Illinois Natural History Survey Insect Collection has recently been completed. Both databases are Internet-searchable in a simpliÞed format (http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/EPT/index.html). Analysis of the databases shows that the Plecoptera are at a much better level of determination than the Ephemeroptera, with 88% of the specimens determined to the species level. Only 22% of Ephemeroptera specimens have been determined to species. The Ephemeroptera collection is also much more narrow in geographic scope, with 74% of determined specimens from Illinois. In contrast, only 30% of determined Plecoptera specimens are from Illinois, with most of the remainder being from across the United States. Four new Illinois records were uncovered in the Ephemeroptera database: Caenis diminuta Walker, C. punctata McDunnough, Pseudocloeon ephippiatum (Traver), and Serratella deficiens (Morgan). Analyses of the data document range reductions in Illinois of the stoneßy Neoperla clymene (Newman) and the mayßy Pseudiron centralis McDunnough, range expansion in the stoneßy Perlesta nelsoni Stark, and a shift in the prevalence of perlid stoneßy species assemblages from Acroneuria in the Þrst half of the 20th century to Perlesta in the second half. We also discuss the change in Plecoptera diversity between historic and modern records from Illinois, and compare the relative stability of Plecoptera species assemblages from the major ecological regions of the state. We encourage entomologists to Þnd other uses for these data and to contribute a growing pool of historic specimen-level data at their own institutions.

Databasing of all Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera specimens in the Illinois Natural History Survey Insect Collection has recently been completed. Both databases are Internet-searchable in a simpliÞed format (http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/EPT/index.html). Analysis of the databases shows that the Plecoptera are at a much better level of determination than the Ephemeroptera, with 88% of the specimens determined to the species level. Only 22% of Ephemeroptera specimens have been determined to species. The Ephemeroptera collection is also much more narrow in geographic scope, with 74% of determined specimens from Illinois. In contrast, only 30% of determined Plecoptera specimens are from Illinois, with most of the remainder being from across the United States. Four new Illinois records were uncovered in the Ephemeroptera database: Caenis diminuta Walker, C. punctata McDunnough, Pseudocloeon ephippiatum (Traver), and Serratella deficiens (Morgan). Analyses of the data document range reductions in Illinois of the stoneßy Neoperla clymene (Newman) and the mayßy Pseudiron centralis McDunnough, range expansion in the stoneßy Perlesta nelsoni Stark, and a shift in the prevalence of perlid stoneßy species assemblages from Acroneuria in the Þrst half of the 20th century to Perlesta in the second half. We also discuss the change in Plecoptera diversity between historic and modern records from Illinois, and compare the relative stability of Plecoptera species assemblages from the major ecological regions of the state. We encourage entomologists to Þnd other uses for these data and to contribute a growing pool of historic specimen-level data at their own institutions.

As part of the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 18 potential reference quality stream reaches in the Grand Prairie Natural Division were evaluated in May 2004 and 2005. This agriculturally dominated region, located in east central Illinois, is among the most highly modified in the state. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency high quality fish stations, Illinois Natural History Survey insect collection data, and best professional knowledge were used to choose which streams to evaluate. The quality of these sites was assessed using the species richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera insect orders (EPT), a modified Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), and a 12 parameter Habitat Quality Index (HQI). Reference quality streams were compared to 21 randomly selected meandering and 30 randomly selected channelized streams which were assessed by the Critical Trends Assessment Program between 1997 and 2001. The results from this research indicate that reference streams were consistently of higher quality than random streams, and are representative of the biotic potential of the Grand Prairie. A GLM ANOVA showed that both channel alteration and stream size were significant factors governing stream quality. Streams with meandering courses and a larger wetted width were generally healthier in terms of EPT, HBI, and HQI. However, HBI appeared to be a less sensitive measure of stream quality. The extent of stream channelization, especially in terms of loss of pool variability and sinuosity, appeared to be a major cause of degradation in stream quality. A regionally specific rating scale now exists for the Grand Prairie that puts 51 randomly sampled streams into context. The findings of this research are consistent with

Thirty-one species of Nearctic Perlesta Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) are recognized. A new species is described from western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, USA, Perlesta sublobata South & DeWalt, sp. nov., from the adult male, adult female, and egg. Perlesta sublobata males are differentiated from other congeners by a combination of a prominent ventral caecum and a distinct dorsal extension of the lateral sclerites of the aedeagus. A preliminary molecular phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed for Perlesta based on 17 congeners and three outgroup taxa using partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data. Illustrations, stereomicroscope images, and scanning electron micrographs support the description and comparison to other Perlesta.

Thirty-one species of Nearctic Perlesta Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) are recognized. A new species is described from western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, USA, Perlesta sublobata South & DeWalt, sp. nov., from the adult male, adult female, and egg. Perlesta sublobata males are differentiated from other congeners by a combination of a prominent ventral caecum and a distinct dorsal extension of the lateral sclerites of the aedeagus. A preliminary molecular phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed for Perlesta based on 17 congeners and three outgroup taxa using partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data. Illustrations, stereomicroscope images, and scanning electron micrographs support the description and comparison to other Perlesta.

This publication is a product of NatureServe, which is made possible by Canon U.S.A.'s Clean Earth Campaign. The NatureServe program is designed to promote biodiversity conservation by raising public awareness and advancing scientific knowledge.

A new eastern Nearctic snowfly species of the genus Allocapnia Claassen (Plecoptera: Capniidae) is described from Alabama, U.S.A. The male of the new species, A. sano, is distinguished from closely-related A. loshada Ricker and A. sequatchie Kondratieff and Kirchner by terminalia characters. In addition, new Alabama state records are reported for Zealeuctra fraxina Ricker & Ross, Amphinemura appalachia Baumann, A. mockfordi (Ricker), A. wui (Claassen), Oemopteryx contorta (Needham & Claassen), and Alloperla chloris Frison.

As part of the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 18 potential reference quality stream reaches in the Grand Prairie Natural Division were evaluated in May 2004 and 2005. This agriculturally dominated region, located in east central Illinois, is among the most highly modified in the state. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency high quality fish stations, Illinois Natural History Survey insect collection data, and best professional knowledge were used to choose which streams to evaluate. The quality of these sites was assessed using the species richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera insect orders (EPT), a modified Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), and a 12 parameter Habitat Quality Index (HQI). Reference quality streams were compared to 21 randomly selected meandering and 30 randomly selected channelized streams which were assessed by the Critical Trends Assessment Program between 1997 and 2001.

Nearly 5,000 historical and contemporary specimen records of stoneßies (Plecoptera) from Illinois demonstrated that this fauna is highly imperiled, boding poorly for aquatic insect communities in North America and elsewhere. Losses include two extinctions of endemics and 20 extirpations of 77 total species, a rate of loss that is higher than for either mussels or Þsh in Illinois. Another 19 species (24.7%) were designated as critically imperiled, being known from Þve or fewer locations. Two families, Perlidae and Perlodidae, experienced the greatest number of losses. Species lost were mostly those with longer life cycles and direct egg hatch. Three historically hyperdiverse regions were identiÞed and losses in all 14 natural divisions were documented. Large river habitats and historically prairie regions have experienced the greatest proportional losses of species. This scenario probably follows for Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Odonata in the Midwest and in other areas with similar glacial and cultural histories.

Databasing of all Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera specimens in the Illinois Natural History Survey Insect Collection has recently been completed. Both databases are Internet-searchable in a simpliÞed format (http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/EPT/index.html). Analysis of the databases shows that the Plecoptera are at a much better level of determination than the Ephemeroptera, with 88% of the specimens determined to the species level. Only 22% of Ephemeroptera specimens have been determined to species. The Ephemeroptera collection is also much more narrow in geographic scope, with 74% of determined specimens from Illinois. In contrast, only 30% of determined Plecoptera specimens are from Illinois, with most of the remainder being from across the United States. Four new Illinois records were uncovered in the Ephemeroptera database: Caenis diminuta Walker, C. punctata McDunnough, Pseudocloeon ephippiatum (Traver), and Serratella deficiens (Morgan). Analyses of the data document range reductions in Illinois of the stoneßy Neoperla clymene (Newman) and the mayßy Pseudiron centralis McDunnough, range expansion in the stoneßy Perlesta nelsoni Stark, and a shift in the prevalence of perlid stoneßy species assemblages from Acroneuria in the Þrst half of the 20th century to Perlesta in the second half. We also discuss the change in Plecoptera diversity between historic and modern records from Illinois, and compare the relative stability of Plecoptera species assemblages from the major ecological regions of the state. We encourage entomologists to Þnd other uses for these data and to contribute a growing pool of historic specimen-level data at their own institutions.

Nearly 5,000 historical and contemporary specimen records of stoneßies (Plecoptera) from Illinois demonstrated that this fauna is highly imperiled, boding poorly for aquatic insect communities in North America and elsewhere. Losses include two extinctions of endemics and 20 extirpations of 77 total species, a rate of loss that is higher than for either mussels or Þsh in Illinois. Another 19 species (24.7%) were designated as critically imperiled, being known from Þve or fewer locations. Two families, Perlidae and Perlodidae, experienced the greatest number of losses. Species lost were mostly those with longer life cycles and direct egg hatch. Three historically hyperdiverse regions were identiÞed and losses in all 14 natural divisions were documented. Large river habitats and historically prairie regions have experienced the greatest proportional losses of species. This scenario probably follows for Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Odonata in the Midwest and in other areas with similar glacial and cultural histories.

Nearly 5,000 historical and contemporary specimen records of stoneßies (Plecoptera) from Illinois demonstrated that this fauna is highly imperiled, boding poorly for aquatic insect communities in North America and elsewhere. Losses include two extinctions of endemics and 20 extirpations of 77 total species, a rate of loss that is higher than for either mussels or Þsh in Illinois. Another 19 species (24.7%) were designated as critically imperiled, being known from Þve or fewer locations. Two families, Perlidae and Perlodidae, experienced the greatest number of losses. Species lost were mostly those with longer life cycles and direct egg hatch. Three historically hyperdiverse regions were identiÞed and losses in all 14 natural divisions were documented. Large river habitats and historically prairie regions have experienced the greatest proportional losses of species. This scenario probably follows for Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Odonata in the Midwest and in other areas with similar glacial and cultural histories.