1. rthropods dominate global biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services, yet they remain largely overlooked in conservation research and policy. The identification of areas of high biological diversity is key to guiding efficient conservation actions. 2. We aimed to identify arthropod biodiversity hotspots and conservation priority areas in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands (a major European biodiversity hotspot under increasing anthropogenic pressures) using the first integrative, large-scale assessment of arthropod distribution in the region, while also evaluating the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network (N2000) in protecting these areas. 3. We compiled over 416,000 occurrence records representing 6231 arthropod species from 13 complete taxonomic groups. We mapped species richness patterns and identified hotspots for each group, then delineated 40 Priority Areas for Iberobalear Arthropods (PAIA), defined as areas that were hotspots for at least three groups. 4. Hotspot congruence across groups was low, with only one grid cell shared by seven taxa (Sierra Nevada), highlighting the importance of multi-taxon approaches for conservation planning. PAIA were concentrated in major mountain systems (Central and Baetic Systems, Cantabrian Mountains and Pyrenees), reflecting their role as Mediterranean biodiversity centres and Pleistocene refugia. 5. Collectively, the 40 PAIA (0.6% of the territory) hosted 3416 species (55% of the total). Most PAIA overlapped substantially with the N2000 (>90% for multi-taxon hotspots), although some key areas remained marginally protected or unprotected. 6. Our findings support N2000 as an effective foundation for arthropod conservation but emphasize the urgent need to explicitly integrate arthropods into its management plans. The PAIA identified here provide a robust baseline for safeguarding arthropod diversity and guiding the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Freshwater habitats are globally threatened by various anthropogenic pressures, resulting in reduced habitat quality and diminished biodiversity. Due to their sensitivity to environmental change, mayflies are commonly used in biomonitoring programs worldwide. We investigated how mayfly assemblages in anthropogenically impacted habitats (hydropower plant reservoirs, drainage ditches, tailrace canals, old river channels) of the Drava River are affected by habitat type, physical and chemical water parameters and fish assemblages. Overall, the reservoirs had the lowest mayfly taxa richness, taxonomic and functional diversity, due to substantially altered habitat hydromorphology. Similarly, reservoirs and tailrace canals had significantly lower mayfly abundance compared to drainage ditches, most natural habitats and old river channels. Water quality parameters had only a minor influence in shaping mayfly assemblages, as species were primarily driven by hydromorphological habitat traits rather than by any single water quality parameter. Furthermore, our results indicate an important influence of predators, such as fish, in shaping mayfly assemblages in the studied river system, as a negative correlation was observed between fish assemblages and mayfly assemblage metrics. Our results confirm that hydromorphological habitat alterations (dams and river impoundments), combined with high fish occurrence, exert a strong negative influence on mayfly assemblages.

The drumming duet (=exchange) of Capnia vidua collarti Aubert, 1950 is described from central France populations. The male and female produce grouped call and answer (exchange) signal patterns. However, although less likely, the possibility that the female answer was a repeated monophasic signal cannot be completely ruled out. The number of male call groups ranges from three to 32 (mean 11), with groups containing two beats (exceptionally one or three), and the female answer is composed of two to seven (mean 3.9) groups always containing two beats. Female answer can overlap partially the male call during the duet or can be produced after the end of the male call. Their grouped exchange pattern is similar to that of Capnia atra Morton, 1896, the only Capnia species whose vibrational signal has been described in Europe. The two species exchanges differ with female C. atra answers never overlapping the male call and the male intergroup intervals being evenly spaced. In this study, the C. vidua collarti vibrational signal is also compared to those of other European Capniidae species.

The gut content of adults of 16 species of Apteroperla, 5 species of Eocapnia and of Takagripopteryx nigra were studied from Honshu and Hokkaido of Japan. A total of 171 individuals were used for the gut content study, of which 113 had some gut content. Overall, they behave as generalists, consuming different resources, likely reflecting the availability of these resources in their oligotrophic habitat. Many of the consumed items (e.g., pollen, detritus, fungi) are frequently found in the gut of the adults of most studied stoneflies but particularly outstanding is the relatively high proportion of animal matter in the gut of several species. Their mouthparts were also studied and compared but no specialization was detectable. Apteroperla shigensis (Kawai, 1967) comb. n. is removed from the genus Eocapnia.

The last 50 years of research in streams and rivers from the Sierra Nevada have provided numerous contributions that, added to the previous studies carried out in the massif, have built a great body of knowledge on particular animal groups, among other organisms. From those, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and aquatic Coleoptera have focused the attention of the researchers in the last decades, while more recently also the brown trout has been intensely studied. The data generated from these studies have laid the groundwork for the development and implementation of biomonitoring techniques and protocols, now coordinated through the Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory. In this article we summarize the main milestones of this period, the major findings on the biology and ecology (including recent studies on ecological stoichiometry) of these organisms and the current framework of biomonitoring, which should be maintained in the future to keep on providing data for proper management programmes. We conclude by identifying the main challenges that must be addressed to ensure the long-term conservation of stream and river fauna in Sierra Nevada.

Primeras citas de Besdolus bicolor (Navás, 1909) (Plecoptera, Perlodidae) de la cuenca del río Segura (SE de España) con notas sobre su hábitat y estado de conservación

Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) are a widespread group of freshwater insects known for their ecological significance and sensitivity to environmental change. This diverse order encompasses over 4,000 species across 17 families, with the number of described species predicted to increase substantially over the coming years. This review surveys the past and present landscape of stonefly systematics, emphasizing recent advancements in our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within this group to the ordinal, subordinal, and family level. We highlight the need for expanded biodiversity surveys, particularly in underexplored regions such as high-elevation ecosystems, the Southern Hemisphere, and the Arctic, and identify the key challenges impeding the advancement of systematic research, in particular the decline in taxonomic expertise. Looking forward, we outline a vision for the future of stonefly systematic research, advocating for increased inclusivity, collaborative research efforts, and the integration of advanced molecular methodologies.

Stoneflies (order Plecoptera) are an ancient lineage of insects, yet their reproductive behaviours during earlier geological periods remain poorly understood. This study presents the first fossilized evidence of copulation in stoneflies, preserved in two pieces of mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (ca. 99 Ma) from northern Myanmar. One amber piece captures a pair of Largusoperla crassus Chen, 2018 in a precopulation posture, while the other features a pair of Largusoperla vena sp. nov. during copulation, showcasing a unique female-above copulatory position. This posture suggests a more active female role in mating compared to the relatively passive role observed in modern stoneflies. Morphological analyses reveal well-preserved genital structures, including elongated male aedeagi, hook-like paraprocts, and bilobed female subgenital plates, supporting the hypothesis that this female-above position may represent an earlier reproductive strategy. The asymmetric male genitalia in L. crassus may indicate a transitional stage in the evolution of copulatory behaviours. Taphonomic analyses suggest one pair was entangled on the forest floor, while the other was preserved in a drier, elevated microhabitat. These findings provide insights into the ecological contexts and preservation conditions of these mating behaviours, shedding light on the environmental factors that facilitated such rare behavioural fossilization.

Metacommunity studies have been gaining in importance in recent decades due to their relevance when interpreting community dynamics. The elements of metacommunity structure (EMS), i.e. coherence, turnover and boundary clumping, are used to assess the assembly of metacommunities. In the present study we analysed the EMS of the Guadiana Hydrographic Demarcation, a prominant seasonal basin located in the southern Iberian Peninsula characterised by a Mediterranean climate, with dry reaches and disconnected pools frequent in streams during the summer. We studied the EMS of the four different taxocoenoses used to assess the ecological status of streams and rivers according to the European Water Framework Directive (diatoms, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fishes), both independently of each other and taken together. These analyses were carried out using three different approaches: (1) using a gradient from reciprocal averaging analysis; (2) following a geographical gradient; and (3) following an environmental gradient. We found that the four groups of organisms analysed had either a Clementsian metacommunity structure or a similar structure. When all groups were considered together, the structure of the metacommunity was Clementsian or quasi-Clementsian. Thus, in the framework of the current global change scenario, communities in this basin may be vulnerable to increasing isolation due to more frequent and larger dry periods; consequently, management measures should be considered.

Arthropods constitute the bulk of global biodiversity, being the most diverse metazoan phylum on the planet. Despite the relevance of arthropods, our knowledge about them remains limited, partly due to the scarcity of reliable faunistic data. The Iberian Peninsula is part of one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Mediterranean Basin. However, very little is known on the ecology and spatial distribution of many Iberian arthropod species. We provide a database on the distribution of Ibero-Balearic arthropods (the IberArthro database) belonging to 10 taxonomic groups: Coleoptera (Aquatic), Coleoptera (Scarabaeoidea), Collembola, Hymenoptera (Apoidea), Lepidoptera (Noctuoidea), Lepidoptera (Papilionoidea), Neuropterida, Opiliones, Plecoptera and Trichoptera. The database contains 1 006 768 records with associated geographic data (at 10 × 10 km grid squares), compiled from various sources and validated by specialists in each group. These records cover 4612 species and subspecies, spanning from the 18th century to February 2024. This database represents an unprecedented advance in understanding the distribution of Iberian arthropod biodiversity and its conservation. The complete dataset is provided in Darwin Core Archive format and is available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

A long-term study was conducted in a tufa barrier located in a barrage-lake system in the Dinaric Western Balkan Ecoregion, with the main aim of increasing our knowledge about Plecoptera ecology, i.e. their taxonomic and functional diversity, microhabitat preferences and emergence patterns. With six pyramidal emergence traps anchored to the streambed, a total of 8191 adult specimens of 12 plecopteran species were recorded. Nemoura cinerea was the dominant, and Isoperla oxylepis the rarest species. Emergence was seasonal and influenced by water temperature. Some species emerged mostly in spring/early summer (Nemouridae), and some in autumn/early winter (most Leuctridae). Plecoptera preferred microhabitats with pebbles, mosses and higher water velocity. New data on species-level preferences, such as Leuctra albida selecting similar conditions, improve our understanding of plecopteran ecological requirements in Dinaric karst tufa barriers. Plecoptera assemblage metrics were comparable among the three hydrological periods identified during the study, and among the 14 years of the study, indicating resilience of the recorded species to the effects of ongoing climate change.

Context Floodplains play an important role in regulating regional water and nutrient cycles in riverscapes, also supporting high biodiversity. However, ecological requirements of aquatic macroinvertebrates in such habitats are still not sufficiently studied.Aims We analysed mayfly assemblages in two habitat types (near natural and anthropogenically disturbed) in a Danube floodplain.Methods Over a 2-year period, the mayfly nymphs were sampled at a total of 14 study sites in each season by using a benthos hand-net.Key results We recorded a low (five species) mayfly species richness. Owing to the reduced influence of the Danube River, i.e. the lower water level fluctuations and the greater habitat heterogeneity, the mayfly taxonomic and functional assemblage metrics were significantly higher in anthropogenically disturbed habitats than in near natural ones. Mayfly assemblages were correlated with higher macrophyte abundance and species richness, pH and water transparency, and lower oxygen and nitrate concentrations in the water.Conclusions Our results confirmed the high value of habitat heterogeneity for the conservation of aquatic macroinvertebrates in extreme habitats such as floodplains of large lowland rivers.Implications Those results can be used in planning management activities of freshwater habitats in protected areas.

The life cycles and the nymphal feeding habits of the Plecoptera species Antarctoperla michaelseni (Klap & aacute;lek, 1904) (family Gripopterygidae) and Klapopteryx armillata Nav & aacute;s, 1928 (family Austroperlidae) are studied in the Chanleufu Stream, southern Chile. Both species have a slow seasonal univoltine life cycle. Antarctoperla michaelseni has a long flight period from May to November, while K. armillata has a short flight period from July to August. The main components of the nymphal diet of both species are diatoms and plant detritus but they are found at a different proportion in each species, so A. michaelseni can be classified mainly as scraper and K. armillata as shredder from a functional feeding group point of view. By analysing stomach contents throughout the year, we observe ontogenetic changes. Smaller nymphs tend to have scraping and collector-gatherer behaviour, while as they grow older, they tend to switch to a more shredder behaviour. Our results are compared with previous information for these same species and with data on the related species.

The life cycles and the nymphal feeding habits of two mayfly species, Andesiops peruvianus (Ulmer, 1920) (Baetidae) and Meridialaris spina Pescador & Peters, 1987 (Leptophlebiidae) from the Chanlelfu stream (north Chilean Patagonia), are studied from January to December 2020, using a Surber net. Andesiops peruvianus shows a univoltine life cycle, with long recruitment and emergence periods (lasting around eight months on average) and with overlapping on consecutive generations. Meridialaris spina shows a bivoltine life cycle, with emergences in spring-summer and autumn. So, the life history of A. peruvianus agrees with that recorded in other latitudes, while the life cycle of M. spina is studied for the first time, cataloguing it as bivoltine, similar to some congeneric species. Both A. peruvianus and M. spina behave mainly as gatherer-collectors, but the first one also behaves as scraper. Ontogenetic shifts in their food consumption were also detected for both species, but while A. peruvianus ingests significantly more coarse particulate organic matter and fungi when bigger, M. spina ingests significantly more particulate organic matter of both coarse and fine sizes when bigger; both species ingest less diatoms when bigger. In the Chanlelfu stream, both species coexist within the same habitat but differ in their life cycles, timing of emergence, and feeding strategies, including ontogenetic shifts in diet. The obtained data are discussed in comparison with those known in species of both genera. Studying their life cycles and feeding strategies provides key insights into population dynamics, trophic interactions, and their role as bioindicators for ecosystem monitoring and conservation. Les cycles biologiques et les habitudes alimentaires des nymphes de deux esp & egrave;ces d'& eacute;ph & eacute;m & egrave;res, Andesiops peruvianus (Ulmer, 1920) (Baetidae) et Meridialaris spina Pescador & Peters, 1987 (Leptophlebiidae) de la rivi & egrave;re Chanlelfu (nord de la Patagonie chilienne) ont & eacute;t & eacute; & eacute;tudi & eacute;s de janvier & agrave; d & eacute;cembre 2020, & agrave; l'aide d'un filet Surber. Andesiops peruvianus pr & eacute;sente un cycle biologique univoltin, avec de longues p & eacute;riodes de recrutement et d'& eacute;mergence (d'une dur & eacute;e moyenne d'environ huit mois) et un chevauchement des g & eacute;n & eacute;rations cons & eacute;cutives. Meridialaris spina pr & eacute;sente un cycle biologique bivoltin, avec des & eacute;mergences au printemps-& eacute;t & eacute; et en automne. Ainsi, le cycle biologique d'A. peruvianus concorde avec celui signal & eacute; sous d'autres latitudes, tandis que le cycle biologique de M. spina est & eacute;tudi & eacute; pour la premi & egrave;re fois, le cataloguant comme bivoltin, similaire & agrave; certaines esp & egrave;ces du m & ecirc;me genre. Andesiops peruvianus et M. spina se comportent principalement comme des cueilleurs-collecteurs, mais le premier se comporte & eacute;galement comme un racleur. Des changements ontog & eacute;n & eacute;tiques dans leur consommation alimentaire ont & eacute;galement & eacute;t & eacute; d & eacute;tect & eacute;s pour les deux esp & egrave;ces. Andesiops peruvianus ing & egrave;re significativement plus de mati & egrave;re organique particulaire grossi & egrave;re et de champignons lorsqu'il est plus grand ; M. spina ing & egrave;re significativement plus de mati & egrave;re organique particulaire grossi & egrave;re et fine lorsqu'il est plus grand ; les deux esp & egrave;ces ing & egrave;rent moins de diatom & eacute;es lorsqu'elles sont plus grandes. Dans la rivi & egrave;re Chanlelfu, les deux esp & egrave;ces cohabitent dans le m & ecirc;me habitat, mais diff & egrave;rent par leurs cycles biologiques, leur calendrier d'& eacute;mergence et leurs strat & eacute;gies alimentaires, y compris par des changements ontog & eacute;n & eacute;tiques dans leur r & eacute;gime alimentaire. Les donn & eacute;es obtenues sont discut & eacute;es en comparaison avec celles connues chez les esp & egrave;ces des deux genres. L'& eacute;tude de leurs cycles biologiques et de leurs strat & eacute;gies alimentaires fournit des informations cl & eacute;s sur la dynamique des populations, les interactions trophiques et leur r & ocirc;le comme bioindicateurs pour la surveillance et la conservation des & eacute;cosyst & egrave;mes.

In this second article on drumming signals of Corsican stoneflies, the complete vibrational duets of three species are described. Protonemura corsicana (Morton, 1930) shows the typical signal pattern of other studied Protonemura species, a two-way exchange with monophasic grouped call and monophasic answer. In absence of direct female answer, when the male had participated in a previous duet, the male can make a second signal just after it call similar to the female answer (probably mimicking it). That could act as a stimulation for the female because, sometimes, the female answers after it. Leuctra fraterna Morton, 1930 males and females communicate with three-way or two-way signal exchanges. Call, answer, and reply are remarkably similar in structure, a signal composed by usually three parts with different rhythm (varied beat-interval signal type). The complete Isoperla insularis (Morton, 1930) duet is described. The male call is a repeated monophasic signal (call train), and the female answer is a one beat signal. A particular interaction between I. insularis males, producing an inter-male rejection signal, is also described.

In this paper we review the 169 species or subspecies of arthropods previously considered endemic to the Sierra Nevada and update their status. To do so, we have reviewed all the existing literature on each taxon, from the original article in which it is described to any other article where its taxonomy and distribution is updated. We have also looked for information on possible endemic species or subspecies that may have been overlooked in the initial list, or that may have been described later. We considered four categories: 1) endemic, in the strict sense, those known only from the Sierra Nevada massif, 2) subendemic, occurring in one or two massifs or areas in addition to Sierra Nevada, 3) non-endemic, species that were considered endemic but live in three or more massifs or others areas, in addition to Sierra Nevada, and 4) not present, those that were erroneously cited as endemic to this massif but whose distribution does not include, either in the past or at present, Sierra Nevada. As a result, we have reviewed the status of 198 species and subspecies, of which 147 are endemic in the strict sense, 35 subendemic, 13 non-endemic and 3 not present. We also highlight the presence of 6 genera that are monospecific and exclusive to Sierra Nevada. Also, as a consequence of the extensive bibliographical revision, some of the dates of description or the names of some taxa have been modified. Finally, we highlight some species described from Sierra Nevada but which have not been found since their description, especially the case of the tettigonid Sabaterpia paulinoi (Bolívar, 1877) which we consider as possibly extinct.

Temporary rivers (TRs) are stream ecosystems in which the effects of anthropogenic disturbances are mixed with the effects of the natural disturbance imposed by flow intermittence. Despite the advances in TRs research, many gaps persist that limit the development of appropriate methodologies for the assessment of the ecological status. In this review, we identify the current challenges for the assessment of the ecological status of TRs and analyze the existing opportunities to address these challenges. These challenges focus on: the differentiation between natural and hydrologically impacted TRs, the differentiation between natural and anthropogenic disturbances, the development of biological indices for disconnected pools and dry riverbeds, the adaptation of hydrogeomorphological indices, and the application of the metacommunity theory in TRs. The opportunities are related to: the use of molecular tools, the existence of alternative indices to the traditional ones, the availability of data to be able to do modeling, and the social implication in the assessment of the hydrological and ecological status. The review focuses mainly on the scientific and management knowledge accumulated since the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Spain but gathers experiences from TRs around the world to guide conservation and management actions in these unique ecosystems highly threatened by global change.

In the Mediterranean region, 419 species of stoneflies (Plecoptera), belonging to 34 genera and seven families, have been reported. This chapter introduces ecological information related to the Mediterranean stonefly nymphs and presents family and genera keys for their identification. It also provides brief descriptions of the main morphological characteristics needed for their identification and the methodology for collecting, preparing, preserving, and studying them.

Los ríos temporales (RTs) son ecosistemas fluviales en los que los efectos de las perturbaciones antrópicas se mezclan con los de la propia perturbación natural que impone la temporalidad del flujo. A pesar de los avances en el conocimiento de los RTs, todavía persisten muchas lagunas de conocimiento que limitan el desarrollo de metodologías adecuadas para la evaluación de su estado ecológico. En esta revisión identificamos los retos actuales para la correcta evaluación del estado ecológico de los RTs y analizamos las oportunidades existentes para hacerles frente. Estos retos se centran en: la diferenciación entre RTs naturales o hidrológicamente impactados, la diferenciación entre perturbaciones naturales y antrópicas, el desarrollo de índices biológicos para pozas desconectadas y cauces secos, la adaptación de los índices hidrogeomorfológicos, y la aplicación de la teoría de metacomunidades en RTs. Las oportunidades están relacionadas con: el uso de nuevas herramientas moleculares, la existencia de índices alternativos a los tradicionales, la disponibilidad de datos para poder hacer modelización, y la implicación social en la evaluación del estado hidrológico y ecológico. La revisión se centra mayoritariamente en el conocimiento científico y de gestión acumulado desde la implementación de la DMA en España, pero recoge experiencias en otros RTs del mundo para guiar acciones de conservación y gestión en estos ecosistemas únicos y altamente amenazados por el cambio global.