Abstract

RUA GARCIA, Gustavo; TAMARIS TURIZO, César  and  ZUNIGA, María del Carmen. Composition and Distribution of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera Orders (Insecta) in Rivers of Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia. rev. cienc. [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.2, pp.11-29. ISSN 0121-1935.

Four rivers located on different f anks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) were studied to evaluate the composition and distribution of the immature stages of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT). The rivers Gaira, Tucurinca, Guatapurí, and Rancherías were analyzed between June 2009 and November 2010 with emphasis on their mid-altitude segments, and the relationships between the entomofauna and biotic and abiotic parameters. Immature specimens were captured using Surber and triangular nets, along with manual collections. A total of 3,859 immature individuals were collected, corresponding to 16 families and 32 genera. Trichoptera was the order with the largest number of genera (68.5%), while Ephemeroptera was the most abundant order (48.2%). Smicridea (Trichoptera) (18.6%), Tricorythodes (Ephemeroptera) (15.8%), and Anacroneuria (Plecoptera) (15.1%) were the genera with the leading number of individuals. The microhabitats of gravel and leaves reported the highest abundance of the EPT (35.8% and 35.3%, respectively). The Guatapuríriver reported the highest level of diversity and presence of genera (S = 24; H '= 2.39), while the Gaira river reported the lowest level (S = 15, H' = 1.84). New f ndings of Metrichia, Mortoniella, and Protoptila (Trichoptera) were reported for the SNSM region. In addition, new f ndings of Americabaetis, Mayobaetis, Nanomis, and Terpides (Ephemeroptera) indicate an increase in the distribution of these genera to the Guatapurí, Rancherias, and Tucurinca rivers. Similarly, an increase in the distribution of Zumatrichia and Leucotrichia (Trichoptera) was reported for these genera with new f ndings in the Tucurinca River

Keywords : Aquatic insects; benthic macroinvertebrates; Colombian Caribbean.

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