Stoneflies (plecoptera) of the Western Carpathians: Does the Geological Bedrock Influence Their Biodiversity?

Throughout the ages, geological bedrock has significantly determined the structure of the Tatra stonefly taxocoenoses. Because of the high altitude and discharge of the streams, stoneflies are mainly affected by alkalinity, Ca, and Si. Statistical analysis has previously shown that alkalinity, Ca and Si content, catchment area, and altitude are correlated with the stonefly Tatrataxocenoses. In the present study, we recorded two different stonefly taxocenoses attached to different types of bedrock. For example, the stonefly species Amphinemura sulcicollis (Stephens, 1835), Protonemura auberti Illies, 1954, Protonemura nitida (Pictet, 1835), Leuctra braueri Kempny, 1898, and Dinocras cephalotes (Curtis, 1827) are characteristic for limestone brooks, while the genera Brachyptera Newport, 1848, Rhabdiopteryx Klapálek, 1902, Capnia Pictet, 1841, Perlodes Banks, 1903, Leuctra nigra (Olivier, 1811), and Perla grandis Rambur, 1842 are characteristic for crystalline streams. Furthermore, the Amphinemura sulcicollis species is characteristic of carbonate streams of the Carpathian Mts., while Brachyptera seticornis (Klapálek, 1902) is typical of crystalline streams. In crystalline streams, Perloidae represent 24–25%, however, just 13–15% in carbonate streams. Taeniopterygidae represent 11–14% in crystalline streams, while only 1–4% in carbonate streams. Finally, we recorded Nemouridae and Leuctridae as the dominate species in carbonate streams.