5/18/2015  |   13:30 - 13:45   |  101CD

GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF MAYFLY DIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND GREENLAND (INSECTA: EPHEMEROPTERA) Based on the current taxonomy and state of knowledge, 589 species of mayflies are thought to occur in North America, north of Mexico. Taking into account certain areas that are historically under-sampled or under-studied by mayfly specialists, distinct patterns of species diversity emerge. For example, even though the species richness of the entire mountainous West is comparable to some single states in the Southeast, overall generic richness in the mountainous West is relatively great, reflecting remarkable habitat adaptation of the relatively few species that occur there. The particular regions in most need of further study include the Pacific Northwest, the southern Great Plains, the Ozarks, the middle Appalachians and Atlantic Coast and the middle and lower Mississippi River Valley. The differential application of various species philosophies by taxonomists impacts our ability to understand patterns of diversity, and select scenarios where this is considered are explored.

Luke M. Jacobus (Primary Presenter/Author), Indiana Univ. Purdue Univ. Columbus, lmjacobu@iupuc.edu;

5/18/2015  |   13:45 - 14:00   |  101CD

SPECIES OF SOUTHEASTERN USA MAYFLY, STONEFLY, AND CADDISFLY LARVAE The long-awaited update of species-level keys for southeastern US Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) is nearing completion. Species diversity of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies in this region is high, with at least 310 species of mayflies, 291 species of stoneflies, and 663 species of caddisflies known or likely to occur in EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southeastern larvae of 298 mayfly species (96%), 161 stonefly species (55%), and 307 caddisfly species (46%) are sufficiently known to permit at least tentative identification with diagnostic keys. Keys for southeastern EPT species of larvae in several genera are provided for the first time. Benthologists studying faunas in nearby states also will likely find these keys useful. The work will be available from Clemson University Public Service Publishing http://www.clemson.edu/psapublishing/ .

John C. Morse (Primary Presenter/Author), Clemson University, jmorse@clemson.edu;


Bill P. Stark (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Mississippi College, stark@mc.edu;


Luke M. Jacobus (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, luke.jacobus@gmail.com;

5/18/2015  |   14:00 - 14:15   |  101CD

REDISCOVERY OF ZAPADA CHILA IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND A REVIEW OF THE EASTERN MEMBERS OF THE GENUS The eastern Nearctic Zapada (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) fauna is reviewed and a new species is described from the southern Appalachian Mountains. During 2014 the rare species Z. chila (Ricker) was collected for the 1st time in 35 years. The new species, Zapada sp. n., appears closely related to Z. cinctipes (Banks), a broadly-distributed western Nearctic species. Easily-recognized differences in gill and male vesicle structure of the adults of Z. chila, Zapada sp. n., and Z. katahdin Baumann and Mingo distinguish the three eastern species. Unlike western Zapada, most of which are widely distributed and common, eastern Zapada are uncommon or have restricted ranges at high elevations. Zapada chila is still known only from the type locality on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Zapada sp. n. appears restricted to the southern Appalachian Highlands in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Zapada katahdin has the broadest distribution from New Hampshire northward to Labrador and Nova Scotia. Zapada chila and Zapada sp. n. appear vulnerable to extinction in light of altitudinal range reduction and climate warming issues.

Scott Grubbs (Primary Presenter/Author), Western Kentucky University, scott.grubbs@wku.edu;


Richard Baumann (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Brigham Young University, richard_baumann@byu.edu;


Andrew Sheldon (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Montana, andylsheldon@comcast.net;

5/18/2015  |   14:15 - 14:30   |  101CD

EVIDENCE FOR RAPID MORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION IN A SMALL CLADE OF RHYACOPHILA SPECIES IN THE EASTERN USA Speciation and other macroevolutionary processes, as well as local ecological interactions, are responsible for generating patterns of species distributions in space. Although there are many mechanisms at work in this domain, dispersal and colonization dynamics have long remained among the most useful explanatory models in biogeography. With the advent of null model analyses of species distributions, we know we may have only very limited certainty around any inferences of process from these patterns. Nevertheless, faunal breaks and phyletic patterns or “tracks” remain consistent themes in our theories to explain regional distributions of aquatic insect fauna. I present a case study where many lines of evidence support inferences on the mechanisms of speciation, andpatterns of species and phylogeographic distributions (referencing a limited dataset of a 658 base pair mitochondrial markers) across the eastern US. I discuss several possible interpretations of the trajectory of evolution of these morphological characters in this species group and speculate on how lock-and-key conceptual models of speciation and the evolution of reinforcement of reproductive isolation should guide species delimitation and biogeographical studies.

Jason Robinson (Primary Presenter/Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, jrob@illinois.edu;

5/18/2015  |   14:30 - 14:45   |  101CD

EPT TAXA OF UPPER GREAT LAKES NATIONAL PARK UNITS National Parks are designed to protect the flora and fauna contained within them, but how are they doing? Intensive sampling of several upper Great Lakes National Park units will answer this question. The regional species pool will be defined for each park in two ways: regional presettlement distribution models for 427 EPT species for USGS HUC12 watersheds and through use of a >200,000 specimen record database developed over the past several years. Parks that have been sampled include: Indiana Dunes NLS, Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS, Isle Royale NP, and Voyageurs NP. The project is ongoing and additional sampling will take place in the listed parks and in St. Croix NSR and Pictured Rocks NLS. No sampling has occurred within the Apostle Islands NLS, but permits have been requested. This work will provide the first comprehensive inventories of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies in upper Great Lakes National Park units and will allow the National Parks to know how well they are doing protecting the most sensitive of aquatic insects known for the region.

R Edward DeWalt (Primary Presenter/Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, dewalt@illinois.edu;

5/18/2015  |   14:45 - 15:00   |  101CD

ANNELIDICALLY SPEAKING – 2015 This presentation will highlight 1) Nomenclatura Oligochaetologica – Secundus Emendo – a web-based global catalogue of names, descriptions, and type specimens of the Oligochaeta; 2) the status of aquatic, semi-aquatic, limicolous, and terrestrial oligochaetes in North America; 3) distributional records for Slavina evelinae, Branchiodrilus hortensis, Ripistes parasita, and several other aquatic oligochaetes considered introductions to North American waters; 4) freshwater oligochaetes associated with natural and anthropogenic phytotelmata in the Florida Keys, and 5) a timeline for a new guide to aquatic oligochaetes of North America.

Mark J. Wetzel (Primary Presenter/Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, mjwetzel@illinois.edu;