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Inventory and analysis of diversity of stoneflies (Plecoptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera) and scorpionflies (Mecoptera) in Medvednica Nature Park using classical taxonomy and DNA barcoding

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera), together with mayflies (Ephemeroptera), belong to EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) group and are considered one of the most sensitive organisms to environmental pollution [1]. Medvednica mountain is located in the near vicinity of the capital and largest city of Croatia, Zagreb, hence urbanization and changes in watercourses have a strong impact on fauna of this ecosystem. Given the lack of similar studies in this area, this study highlights taxa for further detailed morphological, genetic and ecological studies. A total of 68 caddisfly and 117 stonefly specimens were collected at 12 localities in the area of Medvednica Nature Park with approval from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia. All specimens were determined combining morphological and molecular identification with DNA barcoding of 60 specimens and morphological estimate was in all cases more conservative than the molecular estimate. DNA barcoding is extremely important for biodiversity assessment and for discovering of not yet described and cryptic species as well as for associating immature life stages of stoneflies and caddisflies in which morphological differences are often not sufficient for distinguishing species [2]. DNA barcoding was performed for the first time for Croatian scorpionflies (Mecoptera), which are regarded as one of the most poorly studied groups of insects in the world [3]. By utilizing mentioned methods and calculating biodiversity indices, this study determined distribution and biodiversity of stoneflies, caddisflies and scorpionflies in Medvednica Nature Park. The study is part of the project DNA barcoding of Croatian faunal biodiversity, funded by Croatian Science Foundation and it contributed to the recognition of geographic distribution and gave new insights into the genetic biodiversity of selected groups of Croatian fauna.

EPT group, biodiversity, protected area, DNA barcoding, phylogenetic analysis

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