Conservation of mayflies (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) in Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil

Conservation of mayflies (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) in Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Ephemeroptera exhibits great diversity among bodies of freshwater in the Atlantic Forest, a biome that is suffering from massive human impact. Within this context, the creation of conservation units using biological information is more recommended than economic, cultural, or political criteria. The distribution pattern of 76 Ephemeroptera species was analyzed using the biogeographical methods Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity and Network Analysis Method in order to infer relevant areas for conservation of the mayfly community in Espírito Santo. The results obtained from both analyses were largely congruent, and pointed out four relevant areas for conservation: two in the south of the state, where conservation units or priority areas for conservation are well established; and two in the north, a region in the state where little conservation efforts have been historically done. Therefore, based on our analyses on mayflies, we recommend the expansion of the existing APCs or the creation of new APCs on the north of Espírito Santo.

Primeiro levantamento da fauna de Ephemeroptera (Insecta) do Espírito Santo, Sudeste do Brasil / First survey of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) from Espírito Santo State, Southeastern Brazil

A partir de coletas realizadas entre 2008 e 2009 no Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Reserva Biológica de Sooretama, entre outras áreas do Espírito Santo, apresentamos o primeiro levantamento da fauna de Ephemeroptera do estado. A despeito do seu pequeno tamanho, pois a área do estado representa apenas 0,53 por cento do território nacional, uma surpreendente diversidade de Ephemeroptera foi encontrada. Ao todo foram identificadas 76 espécies, 41 gêneros e nove famílias, que representam aproximadamente 25 por cento das espécies brasileiras, 65 por cento dos gêneros e quase todas as famílias ocorrentes no Brasil. Destes táxons, 17 espécies (a maioria de Baetidae e Leptophlebiidae) são novos para a ciência. Cinco espécies, coletadas apenas no estágio ninfal, não puderam ser identificadas. O presente trabalho demonstra que, como para muitos organismos, a diversidade de Ephemeroptera para o estado é alta e mais pesquisas sobre a composição faunística de insetos aquáticos no Espírito Santo devem ser incentivadas.

Based on collections performed between 2008 and 2009 at Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Reserva Biológica de Sooretama, among other areas in Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil, we present the first survey of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from the state. Despite the fact that the state is one of the smallest in Brazil, representing only 0.53 percent of the country area, a surprising diversity was found. Seventy-six species, 41 genera and nine families were identified, which represents about 25 percent of the species reported from Brazil, 65 percent of the genera, and almost all families. Of these, 17 species (most of Baetidae and Leptophlebiidae) are new to science. Five species, collected only at the nymphal stage, could not be identified to the species level. The present work demonstrates that, as for other organisms, the diversity of mayflies is high in the state, and more works aiming to investigate the aquatic insect composition of the Espírito Santo State should be encouraged.