Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) of the alpine region of the Southern Alps, New Zealand

Abstract

The alpine region of the South Island of New Zealand is the habitat of a group of endemic mayfly species of the genus Deleatidium, which show adaptation to an alpine tundra environment. Their speciation may be best explained as the consequence of a series of Pleistocene ice advances and retreats. The larval stages of these species are well adapted to cold, fast water and high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Their distribution, restricted by geographic and climatic factors, renders the group vulnerable to climate change.

Keywords:

• Ephemeroptera
• Deleatidium
• alpine
• distribution
• global warming
• ultraviolet radiation

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Dean Olsen and Suzie Wood of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson for carrying out the comparisons of segments of the mitochondrial gene, COI. Milan Pallmann took the photograph of D. cornutum. Bertha Allison, Eric Edwards, Ian Henderson, Judith and Richard Hitchings, Peter Johns, Ian Millar, Simon Morris, Brian Patrick, John Penniket, Phyl Penney, Eva Pietrzykowska, Arnold Staniczek, Gillie Tiffen, David Towns, John and Geraldine Ward, Simon Watson and Rod White all assisted with field collecting and made distribution information more comprehensive. The Canterbury Museum and Document Resource Centre made research space available and gave access to its reference collection. Alan Happer, Edwin Jansen, Arnold Staniczek and Richard McKenzie gave useful advice and practical assistance. Mike Winterbourn and Suzie Wood read and made valued comments on the manuscript. Peter Zwick directed my attention to the important relevant work of P.D.N. Hebert and C.J. Emery. The Mason Foundation generously provided a travel grant to attend the Joint Meeting on Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2008. To all of these individuals and organisations, I am most grateful.