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The Chironomidae (Diptera) fauna of Greece: ecological distributions and patterns, taxalist and new records

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2014

Mateusz Płóciennik  and
Ioannis Karaouzas
Mateusz Płóciennik*
Affiliation:
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Banacha st. 12/16, Lodz 90-237, Poland
Ioannis Karaouzas
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 46.7 km Athens-Sounio Av., Anavissos 19013, Greece
*
*Corresponding author: mplociennik10@outlook.com
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Abstract

For the first time, a faunistic list of the Chironomidae fauna of Greece is presented along with its ecological distribution. Chironomidae larvae and pupal exuviae were collected from 61 locations in mainland Greece during 2006–2008. 76 taxa (genera to species) were recorded. The genera Potthastia, Brillia, Euorthocladius, Synorthocladius, Tvetenia and Xenochironomus are recorded for the first time from Greece. Furthermore, 12 species are new for Greece and five are new for mainland Greece. Chironomidae collected from running waters were analysed with ordination techniques. The results revealed that Chironomidae assemblages were distinguished into three ecoregions with distinct climatic, geological and hydrochemical features. Running waters in Northwestern Greece were generally dominated by species tolerant to water acidification. Chironomids typical of eastern uplands preferred relatively slow current and soft bottom sediments. Assemblages of the southern Peloponnese Peninsula were represented by species of relatively fast flowing, warm streams. However, these are only preliminary results and many more data are needed to justify this ecological distinction of Chironomidae assemblages. This is the first study contributing to the knowledge of a rather neglected insect group of the Greek fauna. It is expected that more species remain to be identified and recorded and future works will contribute to this initial faunal list.

Keywords

ChironomidaeDipteraecogeographytaxalistnew recordsGreece
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , 2014 , pp. 19 - 34
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2014

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