The genus Claudioperla (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae), which has been reported from Chile and Argentina to Colombia, was until now monospecific. The study of adults from various localities of the ...Bolivian Altiplano has resulted in the discovery of four distinct species. Three are new and described: Claudioperla rosalesi n. sp., Claudioperla moyai n. sp., and Claudioperla ruhieri n. sp. The fourth, Claudioperla tigrina (Klapálek), presents morphological variations with previous descriptions that are exposed and discussed. One of the new species, C. ruhieri, is apterous. The male of C. moyai is micropterous. Among South American stoneflies, they are the first cases of aptery and microptery reported outside of Patagonia. Adapted to extreme conditions of temperature and altitude, C. moyai and C. ruhieri are particularly threatened by the recent evolution of Bolivian glaciers.
The stonefly genus Claudioperla is reported for the first time from Colombia based on adult male, female and larval specimens collected in the southwest Andean region of Cumbal, Nariño Department at ...3050 m.a.s.l. The collection site on River Blanco is a low order stream dominated by riffle zones with high slope and the riparian vegetation consists primarily of shrubs and grasses. This record from Colombia is the northernmost to be documented for the genus in South America.
This work describes the structure of a macro invertebrate community in a high Andean stream of the Bolivian Amazon basin. Annual and longitudinal variations in relation to environmental factors are ...described. This stream has a low longitudinal heterogeneity, high flow variations, and is free of anthropogenic influences. In addition, this river as many other high-Andean waterways, is fed and consequently regulated by a glacier (Mururata). This is a diminishing phenomenon, so the river is threatened by the disappearance of tropical glaciers due the global climatic warming. The effects on the aquatic fauna could be drastic. Our results show low taxa richness, which are nevertheless abundant, especially those macro invertebrates whose populations are permanent: Baetidae (Andesiops peruvianus), Leptophlebiidae (Meridialaris tintinnabula), Gripopterygidae (Claudioperla tigrina), Simuliidae, Chironomidae and Oligochaeta. Using Multivariate Analysis, we demonstrate that the densities and richness of the benthic populations are under the influence of hydrological discharge variations.Original Abstract: Este trabajo describe la estructura de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados acuaticos en un rio altoandino de la cuenca amazonica boliviana. Se describe la variacion anual y longitudinal en relacion a factores ambientales. Este rio libre de influencias antropogenicas, presenta una baja heterogeneidad longitudinal pero importantes variaciones de flujo. Ademas, como muchos rios altoandinos, esta alimentado y consecuentemente regulado por un glacial (Mururata). Este fenomeno decrece y esta amenazado por la desaparicion de los glaciales tropicales a causa del calentamiento global. Los efectos de la fauna podrian ser drasticos. Nuestros resultados muestran una baja riqueza de taxa de macroinvertebrados que sin embargo son abundantes, especialmente aquellas poblaciones que son permanentes: Baetidae (Andesiops peruvianus), Leptophlebiidae (Meridialaris tintinnabula), Gripopterygidae (Claudioperla tigrina), Simuliidae, Chironomidae y Oligochaeta. Mediante herramientas estadisticas de analisis multivariado, demostramos que la densidad y la riqueza de las poblaciones de macroinvertebrados estan influenciadas por las variaciones de descarga hidraulica.
