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Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae assemblages differ along an altitudinal gradient and temporal periods in a subtropical montane stream in Northwest Argentina

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of Chironomidae larvae assemblages in a subtropical mountain river basin of northwestern Argentina. We hypothesized that they would respond to (1) environmental changes along the altitudinal gradient in the Yungas forests; (2) environmental changes caused by spates (e.g., increased discharge or sediment transportation). We sampled five sites along an altitudinal gradient of ca. 1,500 m (from 680 to 2,170 m) during low-water and high-water period for 2 years. The Chironomidae larvae assemblages varied along the altitudinal gradient and between sampling periods based on an indicator species analyses and an ordination analyses (NMDS). The best indicator for high altitude sites was “Genus X” followed by Onconeura sp.2, “Genus 9”, “Genus 10”, and Rheotanytarsus sp.2; while Rheotanytarsus lamellatus, Oliveiriella sanjavieri, and Thienemanniella sp. were good indicators for low altitude sites. O. sanjavieri and R. lamellatus were the best indicators for high-water period. The most relevant environmental variables influencing their spatial and temporal distribution were altitude, water temperature, conductivity, and pH. This study is the first to analyze and describe in detail the spatial and temporal distribution of Chironomidae larvae assemblages in northwestern Argentina, and most of the taxa reported here are new records for the region.

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Acknowledgments

Eva Tejerina is very thankful to her doctoral thesis advisor Carlos Molineri. She is also grateful to Karina Garcia for making the map of sample sites and to the “aquatic insect” group of Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical for their help in the field. Eva Tejerina had an internal fellowship from CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas, Argentina) while doing this research, and Agustina Malizia is currently a research assistant at CONICET. This study was financially supported by PICT 01–528 and CIUNT 26/G416 (2008/2011).

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  1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical (IBN), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 205, 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

    Eva Gabriela Tejerina

  2. CONICET-Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Casilla de Correo 34, 4107, Yerba Buena, Tucumán, Argentina

    Agustina Malizia

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  1. Eva Gabriela Tejerina
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  2. Agustina Malizia
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Correspondence to Eva Gabriela Tejerina.

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Tejerina, E.G., Malizia, A. Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae assemblages differ along an altitudinal gradient and temporal periods in a subtropical montane stream in Northwest Argentina. Hydrobiologia 686, 41–54 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0984-x

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