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Type: Article
Published: 2018-03-13
Page range: 295–300
Abstract views: 571
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Rediscovery of the critically endangered ‘scarce yellow sally stonefly’ Isogenus nubecula in United Kingdom after a 22 year period of absence

Freshwater Biological Association, River Laboratory, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6BB, UK Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
Ty’n Berth, Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey, Gwynedd, LL76 8SX, UK
Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK
Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK
Plecoptera Isogenus nubecula Scarce Yellow Sally Stonefly Rediscovery DNA

Abstract

The critically endangered ‘scarce yellow sally stonefly’ Isogenus nubecula (Newman, 1833) (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) was rediscovered in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017. This rediscovery comes after a 22-year period of absence despite numerous surveys since its last record in 1995. This species is one of the rarest stoneflies in the UK and Europe and its rediscovery is of international significance, being the westernmost point in Europe where the species is found, with the next nearest populations occurring in Austria and western Hungary, Slovakia, and central Sweden. The species is classed as pRDB2 (vulnerable), however is not listed in the British Red Data Book despite only being present (as far as records detail) in one river, the River Dee in North Wales, UK. Only fourteen individuals were caught and the need for conservation of this rare stonefly is therefore of paramount importance. We have made recommendations for the need to increase survey effort using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques in order to fully understand the species range in this river and those in the surrounding area. The DNA sequence of I. nubecula has been uploaded on GenBank for further genetic studies. Captive rearing could also be explored with possible reintroductions to sites within its former UK range.

 

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