Volume 11, Issue 2 (2025)                   J. Insect Biodivers. Syst 2025, 11(2): 303-321 | Back to browse issues page


XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Selvakumar C, Ashokkumar C, Sundar S, De Oliveira Roque F, Gunasekaran M. Diversity and distribution of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in the “sky islands” of Palni Hills, Western Ghats, India. J. Insect Biodivers. Syst 2025; 11 (2) :303-321
URL: http://jibs.modares.ac.ir/article-36-76446-en.html
1- Department of Zoology, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai-625 011, Tamil Nadu, India , selvaaa06@gmail.com
2- Department of Zoology, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai-625 011, Tamil Nadu, India
3- Division of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, S.S.Research Foundation, Kallidaikurichi -627416, Tamil Nadu, India
4- Departamento de Biología, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitaria, Pioneiros, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil & Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Douglas, Cairns, 4811, Queensland, Australia
5- Division of Plant Sciences, S.S.Research Foundation, Kallidaikurichi -627416, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract:   (405 Views)
The Palni Hills, part of the Western Ghats Mountain range in southern India, constitute a biodiversity hotspot, and their high elevation creates unique ecological conditions. Despite global recognition of the region as a biodiversity hotspot, many taxonomic groups remain poorly studied, including mayflies. We conducted a survey of mayflies in the Palni Hills to document the current diversity profile and analyse their altitudinal distribution patterns, ranging from 346 to 1685 m asl. Our sampling from April to October 2023 covered eleven sites, resulting in the collection of 788 individuals, representing 24 species, 16 genera, and six families. Four species are reported for the first time from Palni Hills. Notably, the families Baetidae, Heptageniidae, and Leptophlebiidae were the most species-rich, although individual population densities remained low. We have provided the updated taxonomic hierarchy, current diversity profile, and abundance of mayflies of Palni Hills. We have also highlighted the knowledge gaps in the taxonomy and distribution of Ephemeroptera within this study area
Full-Text [PDF 3413 kb]   (543 Downloads)    

Article Type: Research Article | Subject: Biodiversity
Received: 2024/08/6 | Accepted: 2024/11/25 | Published: 2025/03/18

References
1. Baker, P.A., Fritz, S.C., Dick, C.W., Eckert, A.J., Horton, B.K., Manzoni, S., Ribas, C.C., Garzione, C.N. & Battisti, D.S. (2014) The emerging field of geogenomics: Constraining geological problems with genetic data. Earth-Science Reviews, 135, 38-47. [DOI:10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.04.001]
2. Barathy, S., Sivaruban, T. & Srinivasan, P. (2020) Distribution of mayflies in thirty streams of Western Ghats, Southern India. Journal of Insect Biodiversity, 18 (2), 50-62. [DOI:10.12976/jib/2020.18.2.1]
3. Barathy, S., Sivaruban, T., Arunachalam, M. & Srinivasan, P. (2021a) Community structure of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in tropical streams of Western Ghats of Southern India. Aquatic Research, 4 (1), 21-37. [DOI:10.3153/AR21003]
4. Barathy, S., Sivaruban, T. & Srinivasan, P. (2021b) Taxonomic Keys of Mayflies in the Palni and Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats, Southern India. Recent Research Advances in Biology, 5, 128-154. [DOI:10.9734/bpi/rrab/v5/6233D]
5. Benton, M.J. (2009) The Red Queen and the Court Jester: Species diversity and the role of biotic and abiotic factors through time. Science, 3235915, 728-32. [DOI:10.1126/science.1157719]
6. Braasch, D. (1981) Epeorus gilliesi n. sp. aus Indien (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae). Reichenbachia, 19 (20), 117-118.
7. Demoulin, G. (1955) Nathanella gen. nov., Leptophlebiidae diptere de l'Inde (Ephemeroptera). Bulletin de l'Institut Royale des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 31 (77), 1-4.
8. Dinakaran, S., Balachandran, C. & Anbalagan, S. (2009) A new species of Choroterpes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from a tropical stream of south India. Zootaxa, 2064 (1), 21-26. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.2064.1.2]
9. Gaston, K.J. (2000) Global patterns in biodiversity. Nature, 11, 405 (6783), 220-7. [DOI:10.1038/35012228]
10. Gillies, M.T. (1951) Further notes on Ephemeroptera from India and South East Asia. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, (B) 20, 121-130. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-3113.1951.tb01009.x]
11. Gueuning, M., Suchan, T., Rutschmann, S., Gattolliat, J.L., Jamsari, J., Kamil, A.I., Pitteloud, C., Buerki, S., Balke, M., Sartori, M. & Alvarez, N. (2017) Elevation in tropical sky islands as the common driver in structuring genes and communities of freshwater organisms. Scientific Reports, 7, 16089. [DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-16069-y]
12. Hortal, J., De Bello, F., Diniz-Filho, J.F., Lewinsohn, T.M., Lobo, J.M. & Ladle, R.J. (2015) Seven shortfalls that beset large-scale knowledge of biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 46 (1), 523-549. [DOI:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054400]
13. Jacobus, L.M., Macadam, C.R. & Sartori, M. (2019) Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and their contributions to ecosystem services. Insects, 10 (170), 1-26. [DOI:10.3390/insects10060170]
14. Kluge, N.J., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G., Selvakumar, C. & Kubendran, T. (2013) Notes about Acentrella (Liebebiella) vera (Müller-Liebenau, 1982) (=Pseudocloeon difficilum Müller-Liebenau, 1982 syn. n. = Platybaetis arunachalae Selvakumar, Sundar, and Sivaramakrishnan, 2012 syn. n.) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Aquatic Insects, 35 (3-4), 63-70. [DOI:10.1080/01650424.2014.980272]
15. Kluge, N.J. (2021) Review of Centroptella Braasch & Soldán 1980 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae), Zootaxa, 5054 (1), 001-144. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5054.1.1]
16. Kluge, N.J. & Novikova, E.A. (2011) Systematics of the mayfly taxon Acentrella (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), With description of new Asian and African species. Russian Entomological Journal, 20 (1), 1-56. [DOI:10.15298/rusentj.20.1.01]
17. Kluge, N.J., Srinivasan, P., Vasanth, M., Sivaruban, T., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2022a) Review of the subgenus Euthraulus (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae, genus Choroterpes) from the Western Ghats (India). Zootaxa, 5181 (1), 001-085. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5181.1.1]
18. Kluge, N.J., Vasanth, M., Balasubramanian, C. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2022b) Review of the Kimminsula-complex (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae). Zootaxa, 5212 (1), 001-140. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5212.1.1]
19. Kluge, N.J., Srinivasan, P., Sivaruban, T., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023a) Indian species of Teloganodes Eaton 1882 (including subgenera Dudgeodes Sartori 2008 and Derlethina Sartori 2008) (Ephemeroptera, Teloganodidae). Zootaxa, 5244 (6), 553-587. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5244.6.3]
20. Kluge, N.J., Sivaruban, T., Srinivasan, P., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023b) Redescription of the subgenus Rhithrogeniella Ulmer 1939 (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae, genus Ecdyonurus) based on reared specimens from India and Thailand. Zootaxa, 5319 (4), 501-523. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5319.4.2]
21. Kluge, N.J., Srinivasan, P., Sivaruban, T., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023c) Contribution to the knowledge of the subgenus Tenuibaetis Kang & Yang 1994 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae, Baetis s. l.). Zootaxa, 5277 (2), 201-258. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5277.2.1]
22. Kluge, N.J., Sivaruban, T., Srinivasan, P., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023d) Diagnosis, variability, distribution and systematic position of Labiobaetis pulchellus (Müller-Liebenau & Hubbard 1985) (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae, Baetis s. l.). Zootaxa, 5264 (1), 094-108. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5264.1.6]
23. Kubendran, T., Balasubramanian, C., Selvakumar, C., Gattolliat, J.L. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2015) Contribution to the knowledge of Tenuibaetis Kang & Yang 1994, Nigrobaetis Novikova & Kluge 1987 and Labiobaetis Novikova & Kluge 1987 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from the Western Ghats (India). Zootaxa, 3957 (2), 188-200. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.3957.2.3]
24. Love, S.J., Schweitzer, J.A., Woolbright, S.A. & Bailey, J.K. (2023) Sky Islands are a global tool for predicting the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate change. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 54 (1), 219-236. [DOI:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102221-050029]
25. McCafferty, W.P. & Edmunds, G.F. (1973) Subgeneric classification of Ephemera (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 49, 300-307.
26. Mccormack, J., Huang, H. & Knowle, L. (2009) Sky islands. In: Gillespie, R.G. & Clague, D.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Islands. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, pp. 841-843.
27. Müller-Liebenau, I. (1982) Five new species of Pseudocloeon Klapálek, 1905, (Fam. Baetidae) from the Oriental Region (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) with some general remarks on Pseudocloeon. Fünf neue Arten von Pseudocloeon Klapálek, 1905, (Fam Baetidae) vom Orient (Insecta, Ephemeroptera). Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 95 (1/4), 283-295.
28. Müller-Liebenau, I. (1983) Three new species of the genus Centroptella Braasch & Soldán, 1980, from Sri Lanka (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 97 (4), 486-500.
29. Müller-Liebenau, I. & Hubbard, M.D. (1985) Baetidae from Sri Lanka with some general remarks on the Baetidae of the Oriental Region (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Florida Entomologist, 68, 537-561. [DOI:10.2307/3494855]
30. Muthukatturaja, M. & Balasubramanian, C. (2021) A new species of Caenis Stephens, 1835 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Zootaxa 4980 (2), 366-372. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4980.2.7]
31. Muthukatturaja, M. & Balasubramanian, C. (2022) A new record and new species of Procloeon (Procloeon) Bengtsson, 1915 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from the Western Ghats, peninsular India. Zootaxa, 5094 (2), 321-330. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5094.2.6]
32. Pan, T., Wang, H., Orozcoterwengel, P., Hu, C.C., Wu, G.Y., Qian, L.F., Sun, Z.L., Shi, W.B., Yan, P., Wu, X.B. & Zhang, B.W. (2019) Long-term sky islands generate highly divergent lineages of a narrowly distributed stream salamander (Pachyhynobius shangchengensis) in mid-latitude mountains of East Asia. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19 (1). [DOI:10.1186/s12862-018-1333-8]
33. Sartori, M., Peters, J.G. & Hubbard, M.D. (2008) A revision of Oriental Teloganodidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Ephemerelloidea). Zootaxa, 1957, 1-51. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.1957.1.1]
34. Selvakumar, C., Arunachalam, M. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2013) A new species of mayfly (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from the Western Ghats, India. Oriental Insects, 47 (2-3), 169-175. [DOI:10.1080/00305316.2013.811020]
35. Selvakumar, C., Arunachalam, M., Janarthanan, S. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2014a) Altitudinal, latitudinal and habitat diversity profiles of Ephemeroptera in river basins of KMTR, southern Western Ghats, In: A Florilegium of Research Studies in KMTR. Published by the Chief Conservator of Forests & Field Director, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli, pp. 191-201.
36. Selvakumar, C., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G., Jacobus, L.M., Janarthanan, S. & Arumugam, M. (2014b) Two new genera and five new species of Teloganodidae (Ephemeroptera) from South India. Zootaxa, 3846 (1), 087-104. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.3846.1.4]
37. Selvakumar, C., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G., Janarthanan, S., Arumugam, M. & Arunachalam M. (2014c) Impact of riparian land use patterns on Ephemeroptera community structure in river basins of southern Western Ghats, India. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, 412 (11), 1-15. [DOI:10.1051/kmae/2013093]
38. Selvakumar, C., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. & Janarthanan, S. (2016a) DNA barcoding of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from South India. Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources, 1 (1), 651-655. [DOI:10.1080/23802359.2016.1219623]
39. Selvakumar, C., Sivaruban, T., Subramanian, K.A. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2016b) A new genus and species of Atalophlebiinae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Palni hills of the southern Western Ghats, India. Zootaxa, 4208 (4), 381-391. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4208.4.5]
40. Selvakumar, C., Kubendran, T., Chandra, K. & Sidhu, A.K. (2017) First record of the genus Bungona (Harker 1957) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) and range extension of two species belonging to Bungona in India. Journal of Entomological Research, 41 (4), 373-376. [DOI:10.5958/0974-4576.2017.00059.7]
41. Selvakumar, C., Chandra, K. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2018a) Inventory of prong-gilled mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) of India with records of endemic taxa. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10 (10), 12389-12406. [DOI:10.11609/jott.3873.10.10.12389-12406]
42. Selvakumar, C., Kubendran, T., Chandra, K. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2018b) Inventory of teloganodid mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Teloganodidae) from southern India with records of endemic taxa. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10 (6), 11800-11805. [DOI:10.11609/jott.3834.10.6.11800-11805]
43. Selvakumar, C., Janarthanan, S., Chandra, K., Subramanian, K.A. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2019) Handbook on Morphological and Molecular identification of Southern Indian mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Published by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. 100 p. [DOI:10.1201/9780429061400-2]
44. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (1984) A new genus and species of Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae from southern India (Ephemeroptera). International Journal of Entomology, 26 (3), 194-203.
45. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (1985) New genus and species of Atalophlebiinae (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from southern India. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 78 (2), 235-239. [DOI:10.1093/aesa/78.2.235]
46. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. & Job, S.V. (1981) Studies on mayfly populations of Courtallam streams. Proceedings of Symposium on Ecology and Animal Population, Zoological Survey of India, 2, 105-116.
47. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. & Venkataraman, K. (1990) Abundance, altitudinal distribution and swarming of Ephemeroptera in Palni Hills, South India. In: Campbell, I.C. (ed.) Mayflies and Stoneflies: Life Histories and Biology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 209-213. [DOI:10.1007/978-94-009-2397-3_24]
48. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G., Sridhar, S. & Venkataraman, K. (1990) Habitats, microdistribution, life cycle patterns and trophic relationships of mayflies of Cardomom hills of Western Ghats. Hexapoda (Insecta Indica), 2, 118-121.
49. Sivaramakrishnan, K.G., Selvakumar, C. & Subramanian, K.A. (2020) Insecta: Ephemeroptera, In: Chandra, K., Raghunathan, C., Sureshan, P.M., Subramanian, K.A. & Rizvi, A.N. (eds) Faunal Diversity of Biogeographic Zones of India: Western Ghats. Published by the Director. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 211-225.
50. Sivaruban, T., Bharathy, S., Arunachalam, M., Venkataraman, K. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2013) Epeorus petersi, a new species of Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera) from the Western Ghats of southern India. Zootaxa, 3731 (3), 391-394. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.3731.3.9]
51. Sivaruban, T., Srinivasan, P., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2022) A new species of Nigrobaetis Novikova & Kluge, 1987 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Tamil Nadu, India. Zootaxa, 5091 (1), 182-190. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5091.1.8]
52. Sivaruban, T., Srinivasan, P., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023) Baetis venkataramani sp. nov., a new species of the genus Baetis Leach, 1815 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Tamil Nadu, India, Zoosymposia, 24, 149-154. [DOI:10.11646/zoosymposia.24.1.16]
53. Srinivasan, P., Sivaruban, T., Barathy, S., Malzacher, P. & Isack, R. (2021) A new charismatic Caenis Stephens, 1835 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Southern India. Zootaxa, 4926 (1), 105-116. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4926.1.7]
54. Srinivasan, P., Sivaruban, T., Barathy, S. & Isack, R. (2023) Contribution to the knowledge of family Caenidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Madurai District, Tamil Nadu. Zootaxa, 5258 (1), 039-075. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5258.1.2]
55. Subramanian, K.A., Vasanth, M. & Kubendran, T. (2024) Fauna of India Checklist: Arthropoda: Insecta: Ephemeroptera. Version 1.0. Zoological Survey India. Available from https://zsi.gov.in/uploads/documents/ checklist/english/87_Ephermeroptera.pdf [Accessed July 15, 2024]
56. Sundar, S., Heino, J., De Oliveira Roque, F., Simaika, J.P., Melo, A.S., Tonkin, J.D., Nogueira, D.G. & Silva, D.P. (2020) Conservation of freshwater macroinvertebrate biodiversity in tropical regions. Aquatic Conservation, 30 (6), 1238-1250. [DOI:10.1002/aqc.3326]
57. Sundar, S., Silva, D.P., de Oliveira Roque, F., Simião-Ferreira, J. & Heino, J. (2021) Predicting climate effects on aquatic true bugs in a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Insect Conservation, 25, 229-241. [DOI:10.1007/s10841-021-00298-8]
58. Taubmann, J., Theissinger, K., Feldheim, K.A, Laube, I., Wolfram, G., Haase, P., Johannesen, J. & Pauls, S.U. (2011) Modelling range shifts and assessing genetic diversity distribution of the montane aquatic mayfly Ameletusinopinatus in Europe under climate change scenarios. Conservation Genetics, 12, 503-515. [DOI:10.1007/s10592-010-0157-x]
59. Ulmer, G. (1939) Eintagsfliegen (Ephemeropteren) von den Sunda-Inseln. Archiv für Hydrobiologie (Suppl.), 16, 443, 692.
60. Vasanth, M., Selvakumar, C., Subramanian, K.A., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. & Sinha, B. (2021a) Contribution to the study of Epeorus Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) from India, Zootaxa, 4991 (3), 499-522. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4991.3.4]
61. Vasanth, M., Subramanian, K.A., Selvakumar, C., Kubendran, T. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (2021b) Three new species of Atalophlebiinae (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) of India, with a new record of the genus Megaglena Peters and Edmunds, 1970. Zootaxa, 5076 (1), 056-070. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5076.1.7]
62. Venkataraman, K. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (1987) A new species of Thalerosphyrus from South India (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae). Current Science, 56, 1126-1129.
63. Venkataraman, K. & Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. (1989) A new species of Cinygmina (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) from South India and reevaluation of generic traits of Cinygmina Kimmins 1937. Hexapoda (Insecta Indica), 1 (1-2), 117-121.

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.