Papers by María Carolina Nieto Peñalver
The macroinvertebrates are a vital component of freshwater ecosystems as they contribute to the p... more The macroinvertebrates are a vital component of freshwater ecosystems as they contribute to the process of organic matter while serving as food for other organisms such as fish and amphibians. Unfortunately, the knowledge of the aquatic diversity is poor in the high Andean systems (between 3 200 and 5 200 m.a.s.l. and rainfall below 300 mm per year), especially in the Argentinean peatbogs, a fact which has made difficult the interpretation of spatial patterns on a regional scale. The present study aimed to describe the composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates in seven peatbogs in the Argentinean Puna, and to analyze for the first time their spatial patterns. For this, we studied the relationship of these organisms with the environment, and obtained information about the surrounding vegetation and water physico-chemical characteristics. A total of 3 131 specimens of aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected, representing 25 taxa belonging to 22 families and 24 genera. In addition, 6...
Zootaxa, 2018
The genus Cryptonympha includes three species: C. copiosa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998; C. dasil... more The genus Cryptonympha includes three species: C. copiosa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998; C. dasilvai Salles & Francischetti, 2004 and C. genevievae Thomas, Manchon & Glémet, 2013, known only from the nymphal stage. A description of the nymph of a fourth representative, Cryptonympha tracheata sp. n. is provided here, based on material collected in a blackwater stream on the slopes of the Cerro Duida mountain in south-western Venezuela. The nymph of the new species can be easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by very long tracheal gills II–VII, 2.5 times the length of each tergum, gill I small, nearly half length of gill IV and by posterior margin of terga with rounded spines. A complete description of the new species and a key for nymphs of all known Cryptonympha species are provided.
Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 2014
This paper presents a list of the aquatic insects collected from Urugua-i Provincial Park. This s... more This paper presents a list of the aquatic insects collected from Urugua-i Provincial Park. This study aims to improve the knowledge of this protected area located in Misiones Province. One hundred and thirty-six species of aquatic insects in 75 genera, 26 families and seven orders were recorded. New records for the province and for Argentina are listed, and the records of new species are mentioned.
Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 2020
Conjunto de datos de las familias Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) y Elmidae (Coleoptera) de las Yungas a... more Conjunto de datos de las familias Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) y Elmidae (Coleoptera) de las Yungas argentinas RESUMEN. Las Yungas o Bosques Subtropicales de Montaña representan una de las ecorregiones más biodiversas de Argentina. Su distribución sobre las cadenas montañosas andinas ayuda a retener el agua, generando los ecosistemas lóticos. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer y describir un conjunto de datos de las familias Baetidae y Elmidae. Estos datos contienen 1.183 registros, 828 pertenecen a la familia Baetidae (15 géneros y 27 especies) y 355 registros a la familia Elmidae (10 géneros y 16 especies). Se muestrearon 10 de las 24 áreas protegidas, existiendo sectores de Yungas que no poseen registros, como
Community Ecology, 2020
The relationship between environment and organisms has been a central focus of community ecology.... more The relationship between environment and organisms has been a central focus of community ecology. Different approaches have been made for analyzing different aspects of this interaction, but more integral studies are missing to understand the implications of the environment for the whole biodiversity at regional scales. In this work, we assess the structure of three biological groups (aquatic macroinvertebrates, birds, and plants) with different ecological characteristics in peatlands from the Argentinean Puna. High Andean peatlands are "oasis" of highly productive wetlands within a matrix of arid highland desert, and they present particular eco-geographic attributes. We found that the eco-geographic characterization of 47 sampled peatlands segregated into two main dimensions of variation: one driven by the elevation and related climatic gradient and the other by landscape features and productivity. The three biological groups analyzed differ in terms of the association between composition and the type of environment. While compositional differences in birds and plants are better explained by the first PCA axis than the second one, the opposite is true for aquatic macroinvertebrates. To enhance the biological interpretation of differences between groups of sites (dichotomization guided by signs of PCA axes scores), we obtained their list of indicator taxa. These differences should be considered to understand the implications of the environment for the whole biodiversity at regional scales. This study highlights the relevance of integrating different organisms when considering community patterns associated with eco-geographic gradients, and related management and conservation issues.
Zoologischer Anzeiger, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Zootaxa, 2020
Based on nymphs collected in Espírito Santo and Amazonas, Southeastern and Northern Brazil, two n... more Based on nymphs collected in Espírito Santo and Amazonas, Southeastern and Northern Brazil, two new species of the genus Rivudiva Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) are described. Rivudiva inma sp. nov. shares several characteristics with R. minantenna Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998, but can be distinguished by details of leg setation, such as length and shape of robust setae and presence of setae on trochanter. Rivudiva oonirikoperi sp. nov. is more similar to R. trichobasis Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998, but can be separated by the absence of setae on scape and pedicel, shape of distal margin of labrum, and length of maxillary palp. New diagnoses and illustrations are provided for R. minantenna and R. trichobasis, as well as a key to the known nymphs of Rivudiva species.
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 2019
The distribution of aquatic insects has been poorly explored in quantitative analyses aiming at t... more The distribution of aquatic insects has been poorly explored in quantitative analyses aiming at the historical reconstruction of area relationships in the Neotropics. ephemeroptera is an ancient group, characterized by its low vagility, and of high richness and endemicity in this region. Systematic knowledge of the group has enormously increased in the last decades, achieving a sufficient background to explore biogeographical historical patterns. Our aim is to reconstruct area history in the Neotropics using the rationale of Barrier biogeography (Hovenkamp protocol). We present eleven mayfly phylogenies, representing groups that evolved independently at least from the Jurassic (i.e., not a one-taxon history). With these groups, we conducted independent biogeographical analyses (using Vicariance Inference Program), and extracted the events that repeated in two or more clades. We found fifty-eight TVEs (Traceable Vicariant events), from which four were found at least twice, thus constituting SVes (Supported Vicariant events).
Zootaxa, 2009
Eleven species of the genus Paracloeodes are recorded from South America. This genus is reported ... more Eleven species of the genus Paracloeodes are recorded from South America. This genus is reported for the first time in Uruguay. Two new species (P. charrua and P. morellii) are described based on nymphs. A key for all South American species of Paracloeodes is included.
Zootaxa, 2008
Three new species of Cloeodes are described from Argentina (C. barituensis, C. espinillo and C. o... more Three new species of Cloeodes are described from Argentina (C. barituensis, C. espinillo and C. opacus), based on nymphs and from adults for the first two species. Two species, C. stelzneri and C. nocturnus, are proposed as nomen dubia. The only other species from Argentina, C. penai, is revised. The validity of the monotypic genus Bernerius is analyzed. A cladistic analysis including five species of the genus Cloeodes and Bernerius is presented and the synonymy of the latter is confirmed. A key for South American species of Cloeodes is presented.
Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 2004
Zootaxa, 2011
Baetidae is one of the most diverse families of Ephemeroptera. In South America this family now e... more Baetidae is one of the most diverse families of Ephemeroptera. In South America this family now encompasses 27 genera and more than 130 species. The Guyana region is known for its extraordinary diversity and high level of endemism, which is, above all, remarkable at the tops of the isolated flat-topped table mountains – tepuis. Recently various international speleological expeditions to Churí-tepui explored the cave systems of this mountain. Here we describe a new genus of Baetidae recently found during the mentioned expeditions to Churí-tepui and Auyán-tepui. Parakari n. gen. can be distinguish from the other genera of this family, among other characters, in the nymphs by the absence of abdominal gills I, tarsal claws with subapical denticle larger than the others, right mandible with prostheca bifid and pectinate and with incisors positioned in obtuse angle to mola area, lingua with a tuft of setae, segment II of maxillary palpi with a concavity and a hole apically and segment II ...
Zootaxa, 2011
The genus Cloeodes is poorly reported for Uruguay, until now only C. aymara was described from th... more The genus Cloeodes is poorly reported for Uruguay, until now only C. aymara was described from this region. Here we describe three new species of Cloeodes from this country: C. dialutoi, C. guenoa and C. vaimaca, all of them based on nymphs. The species C. opacus is reported for the first time in Uruguay. A discussion of each taxon is included as well as drawings of the new species. A revised and updated key for male imagos and nymphs of South American species of Cloeodes is presented.
Zootaxa, 2011
The family Baetidae is still poorly known from Venezuela, particularly in the South of this count... more The family Baetidae is still poorly known from Venezuela, particularly in the South of this country. Three field trips were carried out in La Gran Sabana region (Bolívar State). As a result of these trips, four genera (Cryptonympha, Harpagobaetis, Spiritiops and Zelusia) and nine species are reported for the first time from this region. A discussion of each taxon is included as well as drawings when it is necessary. Keys with all known genera of Baetidae and all known species of Camelobaetidius from Venezuela are included too. With this analysis, the number of the genera and species reported is duplicated improving the knowledge of this family from this country.
Zootaxa, 2011
We give new geographical and morphological data for the Pannota mayflies of Venezuelan Guayanan u... more We give new geographical and morphological data for the Pannota mayflies of Venezuelan Guayanan uplands. Coryphorus aquilus (Coryphoridae), Amanahyphes saguassu and Tricorythopsis yucupe (Leptohyphidae) are newly recorded for Venezuela, the adults of the last species are described for the first time. Macunahyphes pemonensis sp. nov. and Macunahyphes incognitus sp. nov. (Leptohyphidae) are described from adults from Venezuela and Brazil, respectively. Both new species of Macunahyphes are very nearly related, and are characterized among other features, by the absence of forceps, and the great development of large paired projections on the styliger plate. Caenis teipunensis sp. nov. (Caenidae) is also described from adults, its diagnostic characters include: forceps apically sharp and sclerotized, and very large apophyses of the styliger sclerite. We give new locality records for Tricorythopsis volsellus, previously known from other localities in Venezuela.
Journal of Limnology, 2017
Central Andean Highlands represent a singular environment characterized by various extreme condit... more Central Andean Highlands represent a singular environment characterized by various extreme conditions. Among them, peatbogs are exceptional marshy habitats scattered throughout this arid and harsh area. In an effort to understand the patterns of beta diversity, we sampled the benthic macroinvertebrates of thirteen peatbogs and related the biological distance with ecological distance using the GDM (Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling) approach. Variables analyzed were altitude, geographical distance, physical and chemical parameters of the water. A coefficient based on the ordering properties of count data, from the perspective of both sites and taxa, was used to measure the compositional similarity between samples. The most frequent taxa were: Hyallela, Simuliidae, Andesiops, Austrelmis, Podonominae, Protallagma, Trichocorixa, Orthocladiinae and Glossiphonidae. The highest altitudinal record ever for leeches is reported here. Altitude and conductivity contributed greatly to the sing...
Ecology and evolution, Jul 1, 2017
Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. Argentinian-protected areas h... more Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. Argentinian-protected areas have been established mainly to protect vertebrates and plants in terrestrial ecosystems. In order to create a comprehensive biodiverse conservation plan, it is crucial to integrate both aquatic and terrestrial systems and to include macroinvertebrates. Here, we address this topic by proposing priority areas of conservation including invertebrates, aquatic ecosystems, and their connectivity and land uses. Northwest of Argentina. We modeled the ecological niches of different taxa of macroinvertebrates such as Coleoptera, Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Megaloptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Acari, and Mollusca. Based on these models, we analyzed the contribution of currently established protected areas in the conservation of the aquatic biodiversity and we propose a spatial prioritization taking into account possible conflict regarding different land uses. Our analysis units...
Freshwater Science, 2016
The Baetodes complex was erected by Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty based on 2 characters: tarsal claws... more The Baetodes complex was erected by Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty based on 2 characters: tarsal claws in the larva with a strong subapical seta and forceps in the male adult with basal segments with a distomedial projection. This complex includes the genera Baetodes, Lugoiops, Mayobaetis, Moribaetis, Prebaetodes, and Spiritiops. It is restricted to the New World, and larvae always live in well-oxygenated streams. A cladistic analysis was conducted for the complex on the basis of a matrix of 16 taxa and 92 morphological characters, all derived from external morphology of adults and larvae. A biogeographic analysis was carried out through Spatial Analysis of Vicariance to establish possible vicariant events that generated this taxonomic complex. The cladistic analysis under implied weights yielded 3 shortest trees, and the Baetodes complex was recovered as monophyletic. The biogeographic analysis reconstructed 3 disjunction nodes when no nodes were removed and 2 more when 1 node was removed. The vicariant events cannot be attributed unquestionably to any paleoclimatic or microtectonic event, but they coincide under certain scenarios. Mayobaetis yala, new species, from Argentina, was described. It can be distinguished from other species in the genus because segment I of the forceps lacks a projection in the male imago and the dorsal surface of the abdomen lacks a medial dark line in the larva.
Revista De La Sociedad Entomologica Argentina, Dec 1, 2013
Cloeodes incus (Waltz & McCafferty) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae): primer registro de Argentina, cara... more Cloeodes incus (Waltz & McCafferty) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae): primer registro de Argentina, características hidrológicas y ambientales RESUMEN. Cloeodes incus se cita por primera vez para la Argentina. Se recolectaron ninfas mediante red Surber y red de arrastre en los Ríos Pircas y Ajedrez (Jujuy: Rinconada) en altitudes superiores a los 4000 msnm. Se realizaron dos campañas anuales: fin de estación lluviosa (abril) y fin de estación seca (noviembre), durante los años 2011 y 2012. Este estudio permite ampliar la distribución de C. incus en los Andes Centrales e incorporar información hidrológica y ambiental de los sitios seleccionados. Los mayores valores de densidad se obtuvieron al final de la estación seca, con escasa cantidad de agua y con un pH de 7,1-8,1. Su presencia también fue registrada, aguas abajo de actividades mineras, con un pH de 3,7. PALABRAS CLAVE. Ephemeroptera. Baetidae. Cloeodes. Argentina. ABSTRACT. Cloeodes incus is recorded for the first time for Argentina. Nymphs were collected using Surber net and kick sampling in Pircas and Ajedrez rivers (Jujuy: Rinconada) at altitudes above 4000 masl. There were two annual field trips: at the end of the rainy season (April) and at the end of the dry season (November), during the years 2011 and 2012. This study allows extending the distribution of C. incus in the Central Andes and incorporates environmental and hydrological information of the selected sites. The highest values of density were obtained at the end of the dry season, with little amount of water and a pH of 7.1 to 8.1. Their presence was also recorded downstream of mining activities, with a pH of 3.7. KEY WORDS. Ephemeroptera. Baetidae. Cloeodes. Argentina.
Zootaxa, 2015
The genus Parakari was described from Guiana Highlands in southeastern Venezuela by Nieto & Derka... more The genus Parakari was described from Guiana Highlands in southeastern Venezuela by Nieto & Derka in 2011 for two species inhabiting streams draining isolated, flat-topped table mountains called tepuis. A description of a third representative, Parakari roraimensis sp. n., is given here based on material collected from a coldwater stream at the foothills of Roraima-tepui (SE Venezuela). Detailed morphological descriptions of mature nymph and female adult are given. A differential diagnosis and a key to nymphs of the three Parakari species are provided.
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Papers by María Carolina Nieto Peñalver