by R. Edward DeWalt
As the readers of RSN already know, the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) maintains some of the largest North American collections of the aquatic insect orders, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, collectively referred to as EPT. These groups are some of our most sensitive indicators of stream health. Our considerable holdings of EPT type specimens, and other material (ca. 600,000 specimens from Illinois and over 80 countries) results in a heavy demand for specimen loans and requests for data on species distributions. In recognition of the importance of these requests, INHS began computerizing EPT specimen label data, and all stonefly data (18,486 records or >100,000 specimens) are now available to potential users at www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/EPT/index.html, and computerization of mayfly and caddisfly holdings is underway.
Completion of this database will result in the most comprehensive specimen level EPT resource available in the world. Recently the National Science Foundation awarded $171,000 for two years to several researchers in the Center for Biodiversity and Center for Wildlife Ecology (R.E. DeWalt, K.R. Zeiders, T.N. Compare, M.G. Joselyn, J.L. Aycrigg, C.A. Mayer, D.W. Webb) to support data entry, Internet serving of the database, generation of geographic coordinates for all unique localities, mapping of all species, and purchase of computers to aid the process. Compilation of EPT specimen records into one Internet accessible database will provide a valuable tool for a wide range of research topics. Important among these is the unique opportunity to assess historical changes in regional faunas. Approximately 50% of the Plecoptera records were collected between 1926 and 1950, before the worst environmental degradation took place. We anticipate that a similar distribution of mayfly and caddisfly records will result once all the data have been entered. Having these data will facilitate comparisons with contemporary collections on a site specific nature and with EPT data collected at randomly chosen sites, on a statewide basis. It appears that several EPT species have been extirpated (Alloperla roberti) or have been limited to "islands" (Neoperla and Acroneuria species) of suitable habitat in Illinois. The INHS is uniquely prepared to make these comparisons because we retained the historically important specimens and because we have developed a database for information storage and retrieval. We welcome comments from RSN readers, suggestions for improvement, and notification of potential errors (sorry, some exist) in our Plecoptera database. Please send your comments by email to Ed DeWalt (edewalt@inhs.uiuc.edu). Additionally, if any RSN readers currently have INHS material that was loaned prior to our data entry efforts, please send us the label data so we can update the database. These specimens may be identified by their lack of a catalogue number.
Just a reminder that the North American Plecoptera Society will meet in Provo next May 25-27. For information contact Dick Baumann, Dept. Of Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo UT 84602.
These papers were selected by RSN as the most innovative, comprehensive and interesting stonefly research published in 1998-99. Congratulations to the authors for their excellent work.
This marks the 10th anniversary of the RSN awards. To date 71 individuals have received this award and 13 have been recognized for two or more publications. Dick Baumann, Ken Stewart and Peter Zwick lead in this category with seven awards each.
Huntsman, B.O.; Baumann, R.W.; Kondratieff, B.C. 1999. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, USA: Distribution and zoogeographic affinities. Great Basin Naturalist 59:1-17.
Sanchez-Ortega, A; Azzouz, M. 1998. Faunistics and phenology of the stoneflies (Insecta, Plecoptera) in the Moroccan Rif (North Africa): Relationships with other areas of the western Mediterranean region. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 71:449-461.
Stewart, K.W.; Ricker, W.E. 1997. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Yukon. Pp. 201-222 in H.V. Danks & J.A. Downes (eds), Insects of the Yukon. Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods), Ottawa.
Plague, G.R.; Wallace, J.B. 1998. Linkages between trophic variability and distribution of Pteronarcys spp. (Plecoptera: Pteronarcyidae) along a stream continuum. American Midland Naturalist 139:224-234.
Taylor, B.W.; Anderson, C.R.; Peckarsky, B.L. 1998. Effects of size at metamorphosis on stonefly fecundity, longevity, and reproductive success. Oecologia 114:494-502.
Tierno de Figueroa, J.M.; Sanchez-Ortega, A. 1999. Imaginal feeding of certain systellognathan stonefly species (Insecta: Plecoptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92:218-221.
Moreira, G.R.P. 1998. Reproductive morphology and copulatory mechanism of the stonefly Agnetina capitata (Pictet) (Plecoptera, Perlidae). Revta Bras. Ent. 41:267-283.
Hughes, J.M.; Mather, P.B.; Sheldon, A.L.; Allendorf, F.W. 1999. Genetic structure of the stonefly, Yoraperla brevis, populations: the extent of gene flow among adjacent montane streams. Freshwater Biology 41:63-72.
Ravizza, C.; Vincon, G. 1998. Les Leuctridés (Plecoptera, Leuctridae) des Alpes. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique Suisse 71:285-342.
Shimizu, T. 1998. The group of Amphinemura flavostigma (Plecoptera, Nemouridae). Aquatic Insects 20:203-208.
Stark, B.P. 1998. The Anacroneuria of Costa Rica and Panama (Insecta: Plecoptera: Perlidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 111:551-603.
"American Stoneflies: A Photographic Guide to the Plecoptera" authored by B.P. Stark, S.W. Szczytko and C.R. Nelson, and published by The Caddis Press in 1998 was nominated for the RSN award in a "special category". Based on this nomination and favorable comments from several colleagues, RSN is pleased to select this publication to receive the first RSN Book Award. Congratulations to the authors and publisher for this beautiful book.
Several workers have shared information on their spring and summer collecting trips during 1999 with RSN. Included among these are Nace Sivec who worked in China and Southeast Asia collecting Rhopholopsole for a joint project with Peter Harper and material for his collaboration with Du Yuzou. Maria del Carmen Zúñiga continues her work in Colombia with a recent trip to Choco. Eduardo Dominguez will join Maria for collecting in the Cali area and at the La Planada Biological Center, Nariño soon. Boris Kondratieff has enjoyed a busy field season as usual with trips to Mt. Rainier and West Virginia, among others. Bill P. Stark collected with Fred Kirchner in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio in May and recently completed a two week trip through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico. Highlights of this trip include a transect through the Bighorn Mountains, collections along the Gallatin River valley and visits to Hyalite Creek, Montana and the Cub River, Idaho.
What could be finer? Sweltsa coloradensis, rests on a rock at Eagle River, Minturn, Colorado.
