Changes in the ephemeroptera assemblages of the Mignone River (Central Italy) over 42 years: taxonomic and ecological implications
Author(s)
Date Issued
2025
Type
article
Start Page
1
End Page
14
Journal
Abstract
Long-term comparisons are the most direct way to infer changes in biological communities’ composition, being fundamental in revealing and quantifying biodiversity loss. This research investigated long-term biodiversity changes in the Ephemeroptera assemblages in the Mignone River (Central Italy). Nine sites along the river reach were sampled in 2023, again after 42 years, adopting the same sampling procedure. Morphological identification was coupled with DNA barcoding to investigate the status of reference molecular databases for Ephemeroptera in the Mediterranean area, and to set up a local database for future monitoring based on eDNA. The long-term comparison revealed that Ephemeroptera assemblages have suffered local biodiversity loss and worrying rarefaction. Specifically, according to our results, almost half of the species appeared noticeably rarefied, whereas some are potentially extinct. We also observed potential differences in species distribution due to their ecological preferences, where species with a preference for lentic habitats have increased their occurrences. Our results reflect the wider situation of biodiversity loss, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, raising concerns about biodiversity hotspots such as the Mediterranean basin.