A Survey of the Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of Southeast Brazil

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HolzenthalDEB-9971885The goal of this project is to survey the caddisfly, or Trichoptera, fauna of southeastern Brazil, including the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Esperito Santo, and Minas Gerais. Tricoptera comprise the largest order of aquatic insects and occur in rivers, streams, and lakes around the world. They are well known because of the remarkable cases and nets built by the aquatic larvae. Larvae are integral components of various ecological processes in aquatic systems, and because they vary tremendously in their susceptibility to various pollutants, they are widely used as key species in water quality programs employing biomonitoring techniques. The inventory area encompasses the most densely populated part of Brazil where the streams have been historically subjected to a wide range of environmental abuses, including deforestation, siltation, contamination from industry, impoundment, runoff, and by acid rain. The focus of the survey will be on adult caddisflies, because the taxonomy of the species based on this stage in the life history, but emphasis will also be given to larval taxonomy.