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Springs: DNA barcoding of Caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Croatia with notes on taxonomy and conservation biology

The paper provides the results of DNA barcoding based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (mtCOI) of 110 Trichoptera specimens collected in 36 springs in the Pannonian-Peripannonian, central mountainous and Mediterranean part of Croatia. We barcoded 70 species from 32 genera and 15 families. The data obtained show interesting faunistic and taxonomic results, for, for example, the species Ryacophila cabrankensis, R. balcanica, Crunoecia kempnyi, Allogenaus auricollis and emphasize the need for further faunistic research into springs, in their role as habitats with a specific and very interesting fauna. The mtCOI DNA barcoding should be included in such research, because it would enable better presentation of the results, especially regarding biodiversity, taxonomy, phylogeny and conservation biology, not just as a segment of a local but also of a global process of understanding biodiversity in a different way. The results of this study show a global need for the protection of springs, because they are specific not only as habitats, but also as localities with an interesting fauna and often endemic species of very limited distribution (for example Rhyacophila cabrankensis).

upper stream reaches ; caddisflies ; biodiversity ; molecular methods ; Ryacophila cabrakensis

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