- Colorado Mountain College, Natural Resource Management, Faculty Memberadd
Traditional methods of collecting, sorting, and identifying benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies, however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic... more
Traditional methods of collecting, sorting, and identifying benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies, however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic expertise. Estimating larval densities through collection of post-emergent exuvia can be a practical and time efficient alternative. We evaluated the use of multiple pass depletion techniques of the post-emergent exuvia of Pteronarcys californica to estimate larval densities at ten sites in three Colorado rivers. Exuvia density was highly correlated with both final-instar larval density (R2 = 0.90) and total larval density (R2 = 0.88) and the multiple pass removal technique performed well. Exuvia surveys found P. californica at three low density sites where benthic sampling failed to detect it. At moderate and high density sites the exuvia surveys always produced lower density estimates than benthic surveys. Multiple pass depletion estimates of exuvia prove...
Research Interests: Aquatic Ecology, Ecosystem Services, Fisheries Science, Ecology, Fisheries Management, and 15 moreEnvironmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, Freshwater Ecology, Fisheries Biology, Benthic macroinvertebrates, Aquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Insects, Biomonitoring, Ecological Indicators, Colorado River, Colorado River Basin, Aquatic science, Environmental Impact Studies, Headwater Streams, and Headwater Basins
Traditional methods of collecting and sorting benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies; however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic expertise. Estimating... more
Traditional methods of collecting and sorting benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies; however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic expertise. Estimating larval densities through collection of post-emergent exuvia can be a practical and time efficient alternative. We evaluated the use of multiple pass depletion techniques of the post-emergent exuvia of Pteronarcys californica to estimate larval densities at ten sites in three Colorado rivers. Exuvia density was highly correlated with both final-instar larval density (R 2 = 0.90) and total larval density (R 2 = 0.88) and the multiple pass removal technique performed well. Exuvia surveys found P. californica at three low density sites where benthic sampling failed to detect it. At moderate and high density sites the exuvia surveys always produced lower density estimates than benthic surveys. Multiple pass depletion estimates of exuvia proved to be an accurate and efficient technique at estimating.
Research Interests: Aquatic Ecology, Ecosystem Services, Stream ecology, Ecology, Environmental Monitoring, and 15 morePopulation ecology, River Ecology, Benthic macroinvertebrates, Insect Ecology, Aquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Insects, River Restoration, Ecological Indicators, Colorado River, Significance of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Stream Ecosystems, Colorado River Basin, Aquatic science, Headwater Streams, Headwater Basins, and Pteronarcys californica
Traditional methods of collecting, sorting, and identifying benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies, however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic... more
Traditional methods of collecting, sorting, and identifying benthic macroinvertebrate samples are useful for stream biomonitoring and ecological studies, however, these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require taxonomic expertise. Estimating larval densities
through collection of post-emergent exuvia can be a practical and time efficient alternative.
We evaluated the use of multiple pass depletion techniques of the post-emergent exuvia of Pteronarcys californica to estimate larval densities at ten sites in three Colorado rivers. Exuvia density was highly correlated with both final-instar larval density (R2 = 0.90) and total larval density (R2 = 0.88) and the multiple pass removal technique performed well. Exuvia surveys found P. californica at three low density sites where benthic sampling failed to detect it. At moderate and high density sites the exuvia surveys always produced lower density estimates than benthic surveys. Multiple pass depletion estimates of exuvia proved to be an accurate and efficient technique at estimating larval densities and provided an effective alternative for traditional benthic sampling when objectives are detecting and monitoring P. californica, especially at low density sites.
through collection of post-emergent exuvia can be a practical and time efficient alternative.
We evaluated the use of multiple pass depletion techniques of the post-emergent exuvia of Pteronarcys californica to estimate larval densities at ten sites in three Colorado rivers. Exuvia density was highly correlated with both final-instar larval density (R2 = 0.90) and total larval density (R2 = 0.88) and the multiple pass removal technique performed well. Exuvia surveys found P. californica at three low density sites where benthic sampling failed to detect it. At moderate and high density sites the exuvia surveys always produced lower density estimates than benthic surveys. Multiple pass depletion estimates of exuvia proved to be an accurate and efficient technique at estimating larval densities and provided an effective alternative for traditional benthic sampling when objectives are detecting and monitoring P. californica, especially at low density sites.
Research Interests: Aquatic Ecology, Water quality, Water resources, Fisheries Science, Stream ecology, and 14 moreFisheries Management, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, Freshwater Ecology, Fisheries Biology, River Ecology, Aquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Insects, River Restoration, Biomonitoring, Indicator species, Colorado River, Management of Aquatic Living Resources, and Environmental Impact Studies
Abrams Creek drainage was surveyed for adult mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera) during summer 2001 as part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park... more
Abrams Creek drainage was surveyed for adult mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera) during summer 2001 as part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). Nine reaches were collected, up to five times, using primarily ultraviolet light trapping. Of the 35,710 specimens examined, 164 species resulted. These consisted of 35 species of mayflies, 36 stoneflies, and 93 caddisflies. Eight species are new to Tennessee, while 39 are new GRSM records. Three rarely collected mayflies, Epeorus vitreus (Walker), Leucrocuta thetis (Traver), and Nixe spinosa (Traver), were taken. Rare caddisflies included Ceratopsyche macleodi (Flint), Cheumatopsyche helma Ross, Hydroptila chattanooga Frazer and Harris, H. talladega Harris, and Chimarra augusta Morse. No rare stoneflies were collected. Additional specimens of two undescribed (but known to specialists) species were taken in Goera (Trichoptera) and Isoperla (Plecoptera). Specimens of Hydroptila nr. amoena Ross (Trichoptera) and a Caenis nr. mccafferti Provonsha (Ephemeroptera) are possibly new to science, but require more specimens and study. More effort concentrated in southwestern GRSM and in Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera should yield additional significant records.
Research Interests:
The Coffee Pot Snowfly, Capnia nelsoni Kondratieff & Baumann, was recollected in July 2012 for the first time since the original type material collected in 1981. Scanning electron micrographs of the male and female terminalia are... more
The Coffee Pot Snowfly, Capnia nelsoni Kondratieff & Baumann, was recollected in July 2012 for the first time since the original type material collected in 1981. Scanning electron micrographs of the male and female terminalia are presented and comparisons with similar species are briefly discussed. The first DNA barcode for this species is presented.
The previously unknown female of the rare Arapahoe Snowfly, Arsapnia (Capnia) arapahoe, is described and illustrated for the first time from two specimens collected from the Front Range of Colorado. The female terminalia is unique among... more
The previously unknown female of the rare Arapahoe Snowfly, Arsapnia (Capnia) arapahoe, is described and illustrated for the first time from two specimens collected from the Front Range of Colorado. The female terminalia is unique among sympatric species of Capnia and is compared to similar species.
Nearly 5,000 mayfly (Ephemeroptera), stonefly (Plecoptera), and caddisfly (Trichoptera) (EPT) species records collected from the South Platte River Basin (SPRB) were compiled from literature, field surveys, and institutional and personal... more
Nearly 5,000 mayfly (Ephemeroptera), stonefly (Plecoptera), and
caddisfly (Trichoptera) (EPT) species records collected from the South Platte River Basin (SPRB) were compiled from literature, field surveys, and institutional and personal collections. From this effort, a total of 291 species (69 mayflies, 66 stoneflies, 156 caddisflies) representing 35 families and 134 genera are reported from 1,208 unique collection locations. The EPT fauna of the foothills transition zone appears to be the most diverse and best characterized physiographic province of the SPRB. Four caddisflies are reported from Colorado for the first time; Asynarchus circopa (Ross & Merkley), Orthotrichia cristata Morton, leptocerus americanus Banks, and Helicopsyche n. sp. The mayflies Ephemera compar (Hagen) and Ephemerella apopsis McCafferty are apparently endemic to the South Platte River Basin; however, both Species have not been reported since their original collections in 1873 and 1974, respectively. The microcaddisfly Ochrotrichia susanae Flint & Herrmann and the winter stonefly, Arsapnia (Capnia) arapahoe Nelson and Kondratieff are currently under emergency petition in Colorado under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Many other species were represented by few records and require further
investigation to better understand their distributions.
caddisfly (Trichoptera) (EPT) species records collected from the South Platte River Basin (SPRB) were compiled from literature, field surveys, and institutional and personal collections. From this effort, a total of 291 species (69 mayflies, 66 stoneflies, 156 caddisflies) representing 35 families and 134 genera are reported from 1,208 unique collection locations. The EPT fauna of the foothills transition zone appears to be the most diverse and best characterized physiographic province of the SPRB. Four caddisflies are reported from Colorado for the first time; Asynarchus circopa (Ross & Merkley), Orthotrichia cristata Morton, leptocerus americanus Banks, and Helicopsyche n. sp. The mayflies Ephemera compar (Hagen) and Ephemerella apopsis McCafferty are apparently endemic to the South Platte River Basin; however, both Species have not been reported since their original collections in 1873 and 1974, respectively. The microcaddisfly Ochrotrichia susanae Flint & Herrmann and the winter stonefly, Arsapnia (Capnia) arapahoe Nelson and Kondratieff are currently under emergency petition in Colorado under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Many other species were represented by few records and require further
investigation to better understand their distributions.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Landscape Ecology, Entomology, Aquatic Ecology, Climate Change In Aquatic Systems, Ecology, and 14 moreAquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Insects, Water Monitoring, Nebraska, Wyoming, Odonata, Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Time Series Data, South Platte, Mayflies, Caddisflies, Stoneflies, Colorado, and Comunity Sampling
The Arapahoe Snowfly, Capnia arapahoe Nelson and Kondratieff, was previously known from two adult males collected in 1986 and 1987 from two small tributaries of the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colorado (Nelson and Kondratieff... more
The Arapahoe Snowfly, Capnia arapahoe Nelson and Kondratieff, was previously
known from two adult males collected in 1986 and 1987 from two small
tributaries of the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colorado (Nelson
and Kondratieff 1988). Capnia arapahoe was included in the C. decepta group
by these authors. Other Nearctic species included in this group in addition to C.
arapahoe are C. coyote Nelson and Baumann (CA), C. decepta (Banks) (AZ, BJ,
CO, MX, NM), C. pileata Jewett (BC, CA), C. sequoia Nelson and Baumann
(CA), C. teresa Claassen (CA), C. tumida Claassen (CA, OR), and C. utahensis
Gaufin and Jewett (CA, NV, UT) (Nelson and Baumann 1989, Stark et al., 2009). Adult males in this group are characterized by an expanded epiproct with a neck and tip, bulb, and possess a dorsal tubercle on abdominal segment 7; females typically have a darkly sclerotized subgenital plate approximately 2/5 the width of sternum 8. Ten males and two females were recently collected from the male type locality of Elkhorn Creek at the junction of Highway 14, 35.2 km (22 miles) west of Fort Collins. The following female description is based on two associated females.
known from two adult males collected in 1986 and 1987 from two small
tributaries of the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colorado (Nelson
and Kondratieff 1988). Capnia arapahoe was included in the C. decepta group
by these authors. Other Nearctic species included in this group in addition to C.
arapahoe are C. coyote Nelson and Baumann (CA), C. decepta (Banks) (AZ, BJ,
CO, MX, NM), C. pileata Jewett (BC, CA), C. sequoia Nelson and Baumann
(CA), C. teresa Claassen (CA), C. tumida Claassen (CA, OR), and C. utahensis
Gaufin and Jewett (CA, NV, UT) (Nelson and Baumann 1989, Stark et al., 2009). Adult males in this group are characterized by an expanded epiproct with a neck and tip, bulb, and possess a dorsal tubercle on abdominal segment 7; females typically have a darkly sclerotized subgenital plate approximately 2/5 the width of sternum 8. Ten males and two females were recently collected from the male type locality of Elkhorn Creek at the junction of Highway 14, 35.2 km (22 miles) west of Fort Collins. The following female description is based on two associated females.
Research Interests:
The Arapahoe Snowfly, Arsapnia arapahoe (Nelson & Kondratieff) was recently discovered in six different first-order streams outside of the Cache la Poudre River basin where it was previously considered endemic. Specimens of A. arapahoe... more
The Arapahoe Snowfly, Arsapnia arapahoe (Nelson & Kondratieff) was recently discovered in six different first-order streams outside of the Cache la Poudre River basin where it was previously considered endemic. Specimens of A. arapahoe
were always collected in much lower relative abundance, 1.09% (±2.3SD), than other sympatric adult capniids. The first mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcodes for A. arapahoe and A. coyote (Nelson & Baumann) are pre-sented and compared with those of A. decepta DNA barcoding was not able to differentiate between A. arapahoe and A.decepta Banks but it was able to indicate that A. coyote
is specifically distinct.
were always collected in much lower relative abundance, 1.09% (±2.3SD), than other sympatric adult capniids. The first mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcodes for A. arapahoe and A. coyote (Nelson & Baumann) are pre-sented and compared with those of A. decepta DNA barcoding was not able to differentiate between A. arapahoe and A.decepta Banks but it was able to indicate that A. coyote
is specifically distinct.